Back in the day, patients suffering from degenerative disc disease that would not respond to nonsurgical interventions only had spinal fusion surgery as their only recourse. Today, with the significant advances in surgical and implant technology, patients finally have an alternative that can reduce the risk of complications otherwise associated with a spinal fusion—an artificial disc replacement. An artificial disc replacement involves removing a worn or damaged disc (the soft structure ... [Read More]
artificial disc replacement
Am I a Good Candidate for Artificial Disc Replacement?
Chronic back pain affects over 16 million adults. It is one of the most common conditions limiting human function. When conservative methods no longer work to relieve your pain, your doctor may suggest artificial disc replacement. During this procedure, your surgeon will replace one or two of your spinal discs with metal or plastic discs. Before discussing the details of the surgery, your doctor will review your medical history and assess several factors to ascertain if you are a suitable ... [Read More]
Top 5 Things to Consider About Artificial Disc Replacement
If you are suffering from chronic pain and limited mobility due to a degenerative or herniated disc and conservative treatment measures aren’t working, it may be time to consider a surgical solution. One alternative is artificial disc replacement (ADR), also known as total disc replacement. However, before moving forward with artificial disc surgery, there are several things you and your doctor should consider: Is Surgery Your Best Option? The decision to undergo artificial disc ... [Read More]
Artificial Disc Replacement or Spinal Fusion
If you have a severely injured or degenerative disc, you know what it's like to have back pain. You may have a great deal of pain when you sit, or you may notice that simple motions like bending and twisting heighten the discomfort. Fortunately, when other treatments aren't successful, your surgeon at Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery may recommend artificial disc replacement or spinal fusion. So, how do these surgeries compare? During an artificial disc replacement, your surgeon will remove ... [Read More]
Artificial Discs vs. Spinal Fusion
Back pain is sometimes treatable without surgery, but surgery may be the best option when the pain is chronic and is becoming unbearable. Spine surgery is highly successful in reducing pain and improving the patient’s quality of life. In a healthy spine, the vertebrae are held together by discs composed of cartilage that act as cushions which absorb shock, such as from walking or running. Each set of two adjacent vertebrae are separated by a protective disc. However, worn-out or damaged discs ... [Read More]
