Intervertebral disc replacement technology (disc arthroplasty) has been developed over the last 40 years. Most devices theoretically exist as alternatives to spinal fusion and a few of them have undergone clinical trials. There is a significant obstacle to the formation of an artificial intervertebral disc: the difficulty of creating a faithful copy of it, both in terms of design and function, due to its complexity. This replacement should also allow full mobility of the spine, as well as torso’s support for the rest of the patient’s life.
Patients with damaged small joints, due to vertebral arthritis, are not suitable for disc arthroplasty. According to the world’s leading innovators in artificial disc replacement -whom you may contact through adrspine.com-, modern technology in the field of intervertebral disc proposes the use of artificial disc nucleus and total replacement, with an implantable device of different degrees of its movement’s freedom.
Intervertebral Disc Replacement methods
Replacement with artificial core
In 1998, scientists developed an artificial core, made of PVA inside a polyethylene outer cover (Prosthetic Discus Nucleus, PDN). The cover is a semi-permeable mesh, which has the property of absorbing water and expanding. It is placed in the appropriate place, with rear or front side access. Due to the ability of the external part to absorb water, the device swells and in a way “locks” in the place where it was placed. The final result is incompressible, and responds to the support of the load and its transport to the surrounding structures.
Total disc replacement
The use of devices for total replacement of the intervertebral disc allows the removal of the gel nucleus and the fibrous ring around it, elements that have degenerated and are a source of pain.
The use of Charite discus has prevailed, which has been released in several versions. In its modern form it consists of two final cobalt-chrome plates with six protrusions for anchoring on the lower surface of each, in varying sizes and curvatures. The upper and lower concave surfaces of the end plates are in contact with a smooth, very high molecular weight mobile polyethylene core.
Such surfaces resemble the movement of a normal vertebral unit and this is an important advantage as research in both the laboratory and humans has shown. The mobile nucleus of the prosthesis mimics the function of the normal nucleus of the disc, and allows movement of the small joints very close to normal. The placement of the device requires great precision to achieve the desired result and is done with front access to the appropriate point.
Whatever the final therapeutic choice, intervertebral disc replacement is not a routine procedure, and requires considerable amount of recovery time after surgery. An excellent reference option is undoubtedly adrspine.com!