A relatively new procedure, total disc replacement is now available as an alternative to spinal fusion when the cause of the injury is a degenerated disc. In the procedure, an artificial disc is used to replace the damaged disc. In theory, it offers the ability to repair the damaged portion of the spine while still maintaining the mobility of the spine. However, this new procedure remains controversial. It may be appropriate for only a very limited group of patients. Patients with multiple degenerating discs or who have had multiple failed back surgeries may not be candidates for artificial disc replacement. There is also a device to replace only the nucleus pulposus, the soft inner part of the disc. The role of these new technologies is not yet established, and long-term outcome data are lacking.
Surgery as a treatment for low back pain and sciatica should only be considered after many other, less invasive, treatments have been tried and proven unsuccessful.
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Updated Disketomy section on 6/7/2007 according to the following study, as cited by http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Peul WC, van Houwelingen HC, van den Hout WB, et al. Surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:2245-2256.
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ts have A relatively new procedure, total disc replacement is now available as an alternative to spinal fusion when the cause of the injury is a degenerated disc. In the procedure, an artificial disc is used to replace the damaged disc. In theory, it offers the ability to repair the damaged portion of the spine while still maintaining the mobility of the spine. However, this new procedure remains controversial. It may be appropriate for only a very limited group of patients. Patients with multiple degenerating discs or who have had multiple failed back surgeries may not be candidates for artificial disc replacement. There is also a device to replace only the nucleus pulposus, the soft inner part of the disc. The role of these new technologies is not yet established, and long-term outcome data are lacking.
Surgery as a treatment for low back pain and sciatica should only be considered after many other, less invasive, treatments have been tried and proven unsuccessful.
