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The Disc Replacement Book

By Jim Rider

Fusion Surgery – The Gold Standard?

In the last decades medical technology has moved forward at a faster than ever pace. Yet many spine surgeons remain stuck in the past, limited by regulation they are still using fusion surgery or outdated disc replacement technology. Are you asking Disc Replacement versus Fusion Surgery?

Due to FDA restrictions, limitations of the approved products, and the inexperience of many surgeons, many patients will be exposed to unnecessary risk, get debilitating fusion surgery, or continue to suffer needlessly. Most, never knowing there are better options available, technology that can preserve the natural motion of the spine, and surgeons with the experience required to help them.

Why Disc Replacement versus fusion surgery?

There are several concerns with spinal fusion surgery. Overall success rates are very low and the recovery is long and painful. Even after a “successful” spinal fusion, problems begin to develop soon after the fusion surgery. The segments next to the Fusion Surgery have more forces applied causing “adjacent level degeneration” which studies have shown will lead to additional pain and surgeries.

the M6 prosthesis has been thoroughly investigated biomechanically and has shown very high durability in testing. The M6 prosthesis can complete 30 million cycles of motion without exhibiting any significant wear or damage. This means the prosthesis will likely last at least 60 to 75 years before suffering wear.  This is far superior to the wear cycle of the human disc.  For this reason, the M6 disc is preferred around the world by spinal surgery teams that specialize in artificial disc replacement.

Artificial disc replacement has now been shown to be far superior to traditional fusion for the vast majority of patients with degenerative disc disease.  While fusion is sometimes still indicated, many spinal fusions can be avoided through effective artificial disc replacement, and usually with far superior results.  In addition, disc replacements at multiple levels are quite common and can be performed without increased complications.  While there is a common understanding among many people that more fused levels equal more problems, the same is not true for artificial disc replacement.  If the proper implant is used, the artificial disc mimics the natural disc.  Therefore, the presence of multiple artificial discs does not increase the likelihood of short or long-term complications.  Many patients, rather than undergo a multiple-level fusion, will have multi-level disc replacement. Where indicated, two-, three- and four- level disc replacement can be accomplished in one surgery and with excellent results.  While it is rare that we would implant four artificial discs, it can and has been done with superb results.  In fact, we find that the complication rate for multi-level interventions is roughly the same as for single-level interventions.

Next Chapter – Disc Replacement Procedure – Dr. Jan Spiller, Chief Orthopedic Surgeon > >

The Disc Replacement Book – A Back in Motion

By Jim Rider

About the Author

Motion – A Natural State

The Evolution of Disc Replacement

Surgical Options – Fusion – The Gold Standard?

Disc Replacement Procedure – Dr. Jan Spiller, Chief Orthopedic Surgeon

Disc Replacement Studies

Disc Replacement FAQ

Disc Replacement Surgeons

Disc Replacement Success Stories

Stenum and Back – My Disc Replacement Story – 2003

Free MRI Review