Artificial Disc Replacement

When a disc is herniated, one alternative to a discectomy – in which the disc is simply removed – is removing it and replacing it with a synthetic disc. Replacing the damaged one with an artificial one restores disc height and movement between the vertebrae.

Artificial discs come in several designs. Although doctors in Europe had performed disc replacement for more than a decade, the procedure had been experimental in the United States until the Food and Drug Administration approved the Charite artificial disc

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Artificial disc replacement is a medical procedure in which degenerated discs in the spine are replaced with artificial ones. The procedure is primarily used to treat chronic, severe low back pain from degenerative disc disease.

Presently the standard of care for chronic pain from a degenerated disc is a spinal fusion surgery. This involves fusing two vertebrae together to remove motion in that segment of the spine, thus reducing or eliminating pain associated with the motion. The artificial disc has been developed with the goal of reducing or eliminating the pain while still allowing motion in that segment of the spine, thus retaining the original physiologic makeup of the spine. Another theoretical advantage of the artificial disc is that it should prevent premature breakdown of adjacent levels of the low spine, which is currently a potential risk of spine fusion surgery.