Artificial Disc Replacement

Artificial disc replacement is a medical procedure in which degenerated discs in the spine are replaced with artificial ones. The procedure is also known as "total disc arthroplasty." It 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 spinal fusion surgery. This involves fusing two or more vertebrae together to remove motion in those segments 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 those segments 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.
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