Overview

An artificial disk replacement is a surgery replacing disk(s) between the bones in the spine with artificially made disk(s). When the disk is worn out or damaged, it is a cause of low back pain and is no longer able to perform as a proper buffer thus requires a replacement. The great strength of this surgery is that the movement of spine after surgery remains within normal range. As such this procedure does not cause additional stress or damage on the bones unlike spinal fusion surgery. The candidate of this surgery is however limited. To find out if a patient is appropriate for receiving this procedure, the patient must be without significant deformity of the spine, and previous experience of spinal surgery.

Process of procedure

• Begin general anesthesia (patient's breathing will depend on ventilating machine)
• Give incision on the surgery area
• Remove the damaged disk
• insert the artificial disk
• Close the incision

Expected duration of hospital stay

• Generally the surgery itself takes 2~3 hours.
• A few days of hospital stay is required for post operative care

Post-operative care

• Vital signs will monitored thoroughly to ensure that he or she is free of complications
• Pain will be actively managed
• Patient is recommended to mobilize the day after surgery

Ideal outcomes

• Pain is relieved
• Mobilization is improved
• Quality of life is raised.
• Improved exercise capacity

Risks

• Infection around the artificial disk
• Dislocation of the artificial disk
• Risk of blood clot formation caused by reduced activity
• Problems due to inappropriately positioned disk
• In years of time, artificial disk may ware out or become lose

Treatment cost

• Expected cost ranges from to.