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Artificial lumbar disc surgery uses principle similar to knee and hip replacement
 Dr. Chris Kager
The Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure
in 2007 after their review of two years of clinical trials
in the U.S. It has a long and successful track record in
Europe.
Neurosurgeons at Lancaster NeuroScience & Spine Associates
performed the first artificial lumbar disc replacement in
this area in January, 2005. Described as a breakthrough
in non-fusion technology, it offers an innovative surgical
option for patients suffering the pain of degenerative discs
and related conditions.
 Drs.
Chris Kager and Keith Kuhlengel have undergone specialized
training in artificial lumbar disc surgery. They predict
that the new procedure will offer the same reliability that
knee replacements and hip replacements give patients, allowing
them similar freedom of movement as the discs they replaced
once had.
The artificial disc is a three-piece device made up of a
sliding core, sandwiched between two metal endplates. The
surgeon goes in through the patient’s abdomen, removes
the damaged disc, and installs the artificial device. By
going through the abdomen instead of cutting through the
large back muscles, recovery time is reduced.
The core is made from a medical grade plastic, and the endplates
are of a medical grade metal alloy. The materials do not
harm the human body. They are made of the same material
used in other medical implants. The endplates support the
core, with small teeth that secure them to the vertebrae
above and below the disc space. The sliding core fits in
between the endplates. The device has a positive 17-year
history of safety and durability, proven through thousands
of implants worldwide.
 Dr. Keith Kuhlengel
The outcome for pain elimination with the two procedures
is similar, according to the surgeons. But they inform patients
that disc replacement is less invasive, and that it has
the potential to maintain motion and restore flexibility.
They also point out those patients with osteoporosis, severe
arthritis, or disc degeneration at more than one spinal
level are not likely candidates.
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