Disc herniation occurs when a nucleus part comes out of the annulus and compresses or irritates the spinal nerves. Artificial disc replacement is a procedure in which the discectomy (surgical removal of the vertebral disc) is done to bring about relief.
In this procedure, the motility in the spinal segment is maintained by using the prosthetic implant. To get the best treatment for herniated discs, consult a Pittsburgh disc herniation specialist.
Surgery
1. Spinal fusion
This is a traditional method of removing the disc from the lumbar region and immobilizing that segment to permit adjacent vertebrae to fuse by using implants such as rods or plates.
2. Artificial disc replacement:
- Before surgery
The surgeon will take an MRI, CT scan, or blood test, and the patient is advised to eat a healthy diet and stay active. The patients are advised to quit smoking as it brings obstruction in recovery after surgery. And before surgery, not to eat or drink anything.
- During surgery
This procedure takes 2 to 3 hours, in which the anesthetists will give sedative drugs to put the patient in a deep sleep and make the patient free from the pain.
The surgeon will do a small incision in the abdomen and move the organs and vessels to access the lower spine from the anterior view.
By visualizing the X-ray, the surgeon will identify the disc that should be removed and marked by using a metal pin that can be seen on the X-ray film.
The surgeon will remove the vertebral disc, including soft tissues and cartilage of the vertebrae, and if there is any unevenness on the surface of the vertebrae, it should be corrected to fit the artificial device properly by making enough space for the artificial disc to get implanted.
By implanting the artificial disc, the surgeon will visualize the area to check if the disc is implanted correctly. The patient is recommended to stay in hospital for one to three days depending upon the condition.
Benefits
- Patients get relieved from acute or chronic pain.
- This procedure provides faster recovery than spinal fusion surgery.
- Unlike spinal fusion, This procedure preserves the motion of the vertebral column(backbone).
- This procedure lasts for more than 70 years.
- The rate of complications is low.
Side effects
- There is a risk of bending, breaking, or loosening of the artificial implant.
- The patients often complain of neck and arm pain.
- Dysphagia
- Patients often feel tingling or numbness in the extremities (arms and legs).
- Hematoma
- Swelling in the tissue.
- Allergic reactions to anesthesia
- The patient is unable to return to their everyday life and observe changes in the motion of doing activities.