@martyk Thanks for asking. I am not familiar with a Minuteman procedure. I had just a donor bone disk spacer placed just like they do for all cervical anterior fusions except there were no plates attached to the front of the spine. Plates give the surgeon some peace of mind, but are not always necessary. This meant I had to be on my best behavior and stay in a neck brace 24/7 until fused which took 3 months. It was totally worth it. This is how they did fusions before they had plates. It is pretty tight and secure because the surgeon grinds the bone surfaces to match, so they are rough and hold together. They have to spread apart the space to put in the bone disc spacer, so that clamps back together because of the spinal muscles when the retractors are removed. My surgeon's notes said he tugged on it in the operating room and it was secure, so he was pleased. Most patients don't know this is an option and most surgeons don't mention it. I did find case of it in medical literature and I asked, and my surgeon agreed to do it.