Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement
When a disc has become worn and damaged disc replacement is undertaken to help with the symptoms of back and leg pain.
Uncertainties
How much clinical improvement will I see?
As with any operation for back pain, there is always some uncertainty about how much your symptoms will improve. In general, and this applies to any of the possible operations for back pain, it is unlikely that your symptoms will settle completely depending on many different individual and personal factors. However, Mr Boeree will only suggest surgery if he considers that there is a good prospect of a real improvement in your symptoms, such that you feel that surgery was worthwhile. Nevertheless, it is always sensible to expect some persisting symptoms which may well include some degree of functional restrictions. Indeed, it is even possible for you to feel that your condition has not improved at all, as well as a small risk that your symptoms could be made worse.
Will the disc replacement wear out?
As yet, disc replacement in its current guise has not been performed for long enough for medical experts to obtain entirely reliable information on this point. We know that joint replacements in the hip and the knee do have finite lives, but the mechanics of these joints are far more demanding. Laboratory testing of disc replacements suggests that wear should not be a problem and this has been born out by the results of clinical studies for more than twelve years. Nonetheless, the long-term outlook is still unknown. For this reason, Mr Boeree will ask to see all patients having a disc replacement at regular intervals to check that there are no problems developing.
Can changes still occur at the operated level?
Although the disc replacement should not change the small joints at the back of the spine, the facet joints may potentially undergo some change over time and this can occasionally give rise to symptoms.
Does disc replacement avoid the risk of transferring stress to other levels?
The aim of disc replacement is to allow movement to occur at the treated level and this should avoid overloading other levels of the spine. Of course, degeneration can still occur at other parts of the spine, yet the specific advantage of disc replacement over spinal fusion is that it should not increase this risk. There are a number of studies currently being carried out with the aim of proving this point.
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In memory of Nick Boeree
Following the sudden death of Nick Boeree we have set up a tribute page to allow you to share your memories, thoughts, and feelings. Click here.
Everything just clicked into place! All the uncertainties, the muddle and the contradictory advice we had received before, just dropped away once we came along to see you. Very quickly we got the answers, the information and the treatment my wife needed.
John Temple
