Ask the Doctor
Q: I've heard a lot about artificial discs. Who can be treated with these?
A: Total disc replacements (TDR) or artificial disc replacements (ADR) are designed for the treatment of disabling pain from disc degeneration in either the neck or low back. They provide pain relief while preserving motion. Low back ADRs are designed to be used for low back pain, while neck ADRs are designed to be used when there is a pinched nerve from a damaged disc. A patient is generally not considered for lumbar (low back) ADR surgery unless they have failed to gain relief from active therapy with or without medications or injections for a period of at least six months and are being considered for a lumbar fusion. These artificial discs are put in through the abdomen. Patients with previous abdominal surgeries in the area of their lower spine, patients with too large of an abdomen or patients with pain primarily coming from the joints in the back part of the spine may not be candidates. An evaluation by a trained surgeon is necessary to make that determination. A cervical (neck) ADR may be appropriate if a patient has not responded to a minimum of six weeks of treatment with medication, therapy or injections and is being considered for a fusion. Patients with fractured spines or osteoporosis are generally not candidates. Only after being evaluated by a surgeon can it be determined if TDR is a viable option for you.
Many of the surgeons at Texas Back Institute are leaders in this field. The first Charité and ProDisc ADRs implanted in the United States were done in Plano by Texas Back Institute spine surgeons. Many U.S. spine surgeons, both orthopedic and neurosurgical specialists, have been trained directly by Texas Back Institute surgeons. More artificial discs have been implanted at the Texas Back Institute than anywhere else in the U.S.