Spinal Disc Replacement

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– March 7, 2010Posted in: Back Pain Treatment

Spinal disc replacement surgery is also called as “

total disc replacement, inter vertebral disc arthroplasty or, artificial disc replacement

”. In this procedure, intervertebral degenerated discs in the spine are replaced with artificial i.e., plastic or metal ones in the upper or lower spine. This procedure is used to treat severe, chronic lumbar pain and cervical pain that resulted from degenerative disc disorder.

Spinal Disc Replacement is a new treatment for for some types of lumbar pain. Recently, FDA approved this method in United States, and research is done throughout the world, especially in Europe. This may be a standard treatment for some lower back pains.

Artificial disc replacement procedure is done to eliminate and reduce pain, whilst allowing motion in the spine. Another advantage of spinal disc replacement surgery, it prevents the breaking down of premature adjacent spine levels and risk in fusion surgery.

Candidates who are ideal for spinal disc replacement surgery are:

  • have only one degenerated disc
  • haven’t had any back surgeries previously
  • healthy weight persons younger than 60 years
  • don’t have any other bone deformities or diseases
  • people who have failed to other medications and treatments

Prior to spinal disc replacement, standard care for severe and chronic lumbar pain was spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusion surgery involves fusing 2 or more vertebrae to prevent motion in the painful segments of spinal column and, hence, allows to reduce pain because of decreased movement of spine. Statistics reveal that spinal disc replacement patients while compared to spinal fusion patients have less blood loss, short surgeries, stays for shorter periods in hospital and returns to work quicker after under going the surgery.