My surgeon says he’s going to implant a piece of titanium in my neck when he operates. Is this usual?

The use of instrumentation, or hardware, is fairly common in neck and spine surgery. These devices are often made of titanium, which is a safe, strong metallic substance.

Implanting these devices can help hold the neck vertebrae in place after surgery, promoting optimal healing. In some cases, the bones would collapse back together or fuse in a contorted way without this extra help.