Disc Replacement Surgery

Preserving & Restoring Motion

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Welcome to The Disc Replacement Center at VSI.

Customizing Treatment to Keep You in Motion

At VSI, we offer a unique approach to customizing disc replacement surgery, creating tailored surgical solutions at each level of the spine that are proven to maintain the natural motion of the spine. This includes single-level, multi-level, and hybrid combinations with spinal fusion. The creativity in our approach provides patients with the most tailored solution for their specific condition and translates to longer-lasting results and a restored quality of life.

Preserving motion is the priority to keep patients active while simultaneously allowing them to safely live pain-free. Minimally invasive disc replacement benefits patients with cervical or lumbar conditions by providing long-term results and faster recovery.

What is Disc Replacement Surgery?

The phrase “you need spine surgery” scares many people. Fortunately, with the development of modern techniques and technologies, VSI’s spine surgeons can vastly improve a patient’s quality of life with minimally invasive surgery. The artificial disc is one of the modern technologies benefiting patients suffering from debilitating neck or back conditions by allowing them to regain their full and active lives after surgery. Historically, if someone suffered from disabling neck or back pain the common treatment available was to remove the bad disc and fuse (spinal fusion) one bone (vertebra) to the next one. Over the past several decades we have developed improved fusion techniques, but the most progressive has been the development of the disc replacement (non-fusion) option. Today the use of artificial discs in the spine has vastly improved results for patients. Spine surgeons can remove a painful degenerative, and/or herniated disc and replace it with a new motion-preserving artificial device that keeps the patient functioning and in motion without debilitating pain. 

How is Disc Replacement Surgery Performed?

  • The spine is composed of a column of bones (vertebrae) connected via discs.
  • The disc is a strong ligamentous structure allowing for distraction, compression, flexion, extension, side bending, and rotational movements. The discs can function properly when these motions are preserved. 
  • There are two small joints (facet joints) in the back of the spine at each disc level. 
  • Together the large disc in the front and facet joints in the back make up a 3-joint complex known as a motion segment. 

When we surgically perform a disc replacement, we remove the damaged disc in the front and put a synthetic device in its place, which allows the motion of that 3-joint complex to be restored. This concept is very similar to total hip replacement surgery; however, in the spine, we must consider the health of the facet joints. Think of a spinal motion segment as a tricycle. We can replace the big wheel in the front (the disc) but rely on the two small wheels (facet joints) in the back to function. If the facet joints are reasonably healthy, then replacing the big disc in the front with an artificial disc allows us to preserve motion, restore function, and eliminate pain. 

When we can preserve motion, we are doing that. When stabilization is required, then spinal fusion is optimal. Sometimes we combine these technologies, where we fuse (spinal fusion) the most unstable or degenerative level and then perform a disc replacement at the other levels, still producing excellent clinical results compared to a fusion-only procedure. Through modern technological evolution, enhanced surgical techniques, and elite physician knowledge, we can restore our patients to full and active lifestyles. 

The Benefits of Disc Replacement Surgery

This modern, motion-preserving spine surgical technique, combined with advanced surgical technologies, offers a more effective treatment option than ever available in the past. The benefits surpass traditional spine surgeries.

This technique preserves the natural movement of the spine and restores an active quality of life for patients so that they can return to the activities, hobbies, and sports they once enjoyed.

The human spine is a series of segments that move with each other. When one doesn’t move as well, the others have to compensate and work harder. Artificial disc replacement surgery helps preserve and restore natural movement in your spine and protects the adjacent levels from potential damage.

With a spinal fusion, approximately 10 degrees of motion are lost in the spine, per level fused. For example, if you have three levels of your spine fused, that equates to a 30% loss of natural motion in your spine. With disc replacement surgery, patients often maintain a full range of motion after surgery.

By using absorbable surgery sutures, implementing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, and following a spine-specialized physical therapy rehabilitation program, you can return to life faster than traditional invasive spine surgery.

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Living Life in Motion

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute) Victory Mark

Many patients considering spine surgery worry about altering their biomechanics and maintaining their mobility post-procedure to stay active. Disc replacement surgery alleviates painful neck and back conditions, enabling patients to return to their active lifestyle, athletic competition, and favorite hobbies and activities. This modern surgical technique preserves and restores the spine’s natural motion, ensuring patients can move safely and experience long-term benefits.

Am I a Candidate for Disc Replacement Surgery?

At your surgical consultation, your spine surgeon will perform a thorough assessment to determine if disc replacement surgery is right for you. Our in-person consultations are reserved for approximately one hour to one hour and a half to provide the time necessary to cover all aspects of your diagnosis and to create a custom treatment plan for you. This time includes answering all your questions, addressing your concerns, performing a hands-on medical exam, taking a detailed medical history, and reviewing your current X-rays and MRI.
Disc replacement surgery is most commonly used to treat the following conditions:

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Customized Disc Replacement Solutions

At VSI, we believe in an ultra-customized approach to disc replacement surgery, tailored specifically to each patient’s unique anatomy. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all solution, we carefully select the most suitable device for each individual, ensuring that the treatment aligns perfectly with the patient’s anatomy. This level of customization sets us apart from other centers, where standard procedures often overlook individual variations.

We also recognize that no two damaged discs are alike, especially when multiple levels of the spine are involved. Each level of disc damage deserves its personalized treatment plan. At VSI, we don’t fuse all damaged discs; instead, we customize the treatment for each level, restoring natural motion and reducing stress on adjacent discs – which reduces the risk of future treatment.

By replacing multiple damaged discs, we not only alleviate pain but also restore stability and promote healthier function across the spine. Our approach to multilevel disc replacement preserves mobility, minimizes the risks of traditional fusion surgeries, and offers our patients long-term benefits other centers simply don’t provide.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Disc Replacement Surgery:

An Artificial Disc Replacement is a type of spine surgery in which a spine surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial disc that closely mimics the natural human disc and allows for the natural motion of the spine. These discs serve as a cushion and shock absorber between the vertebrae (bones) in the neck and back. Once the degenerated or damaged disc is removed it is replaced with an artificial disc. The artificial disc mimics and resembles that of a natural human disc. 

Customizing the disc to each the unique anatomy of the patient is critical. We have access to all disc types available on the market and a variety of sizes for cervical and lumbar disc replacements. Factors that go into selecting the appropriate artificial disc size are stability, flexibility/motion, & severity of condition/pathology.

  • There have been seven generations of discs over time to get us to the advancements we have today, and with each one our surgeons have gained more insight into what is best for our patients.
  • We use several different types of artificial discs in order to customize treatment for our patients, both for cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back).
  • Our surgeons are equipped to guide you through the selection process, and provide you with recommendations based on your specific anatomy and degree of your condition.

The most important part is picking a qualified spine surgeon who will assist you in selecting the most appropriate disc to match your anatomy and meet your needs. The spine surgeons at VSI are national pioneers in disc replacement and have performed many world’s-first disc replacement procedures. Our team is at the forefront of new technology that can better serve our patients through this surgical process.

  • VSI’s participation in research & development of discs used in disc replacement surgery provides our surgeons with the knowledge to make the best decisions.
  • We have taken part in FDA trials (Simplify).
  • As the leaders in disc replacement surgery, our research paper was submitted at the 2021 North American Spine Society conference.

Disc replacement surgery is better in the fact that it preserves the natural motion of your spine. However, sometimes disc replacement cannot be used for all treatments, or should actually be used in combination with a fusion (Hybrid Spine Surgery). We believe it is important to discuss all of the different treatment options with our patients, and then select which is best for their unique condition and goals.

Disc replacements for the neck or back are similar to joint replacements in the hip, knee, and shoulder in that they allow you to keep your normal motion.

Consider how many levels are problematic for you, what type of motion you have now, and what your activity goals are for the future. Open communication is imperative to helping you make an informed decision on the best next steps.

Find Out if You’re a Candidate. Speak with an Expert!

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