What is the 5 year success rate for disk replacement surgery?

Answer 1

Currently, artificial disc replacement is considered experimental and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of the research that has been conducted on artificial discs has been carried out in Europe.

Different models have been developed, but the most widely used and known artificial disc is the LINK SB Charite III prosthesis made by Waldemar Link GmbH & Company, Hamburg, Germany. The model consists of two metal metallic plates that have teeth to anchor the implant between the bones or vertebral bodies. Between the two plates is a rubber core made up of polyethylene that allows for motion.

In order to avoid complications that may arise from artificial disc replacement surgery, careful selection of patients by the surgeon is critical. At present, it is thought that the best candidates for spinal disc replacement are adults with a one level symptomatic degenerative disc.

Patients whose bone may not be as strong due to aging, or some other bone disorder, may develop problems if the implant settles into the "soft" bone. Therefore, these individuals are not considered optimal candidates for this type of procedure. Since there can be movement of the implant, patients with a slippage of one vertebra on another (termed "spondylolisthesis") are also not considered candidates for artificial disc replacement. Based on the current research, the clinical diagnoses that seem the most fitting for artificial disc replacement include symptomatic degenerative disc disease and post-discectomy syndrome. Post-discectomy syndrome is persistent Back pain following previous surgery to remove a herniated disc.

Patients may also not improve following the procedure and may require additional surgery. Finally, like joint replacement surgery, artificial implants may fail over time due to wear of the materials and loosening of the implants. Therefore, long term studies that track the life span of the implants are needed.