Reoperations After Artificial Disc Replacement
More and more back patients are getting the new CHARITÉ artificial disc replacement (ADR). At least 15,000 CHARITÉ ADRs have been done. In this study, results of 589 patients from 14 spine centers across the U.S. are reported.
Patients needing reoperation for any reason were analyzed carefully. Researchers were looking for any patterns of treatment that could help prevent or treat such cases in the future.
Patients who had to have surgery again were put into one of two groups. The first group had an unacceptable position of the ADR. It had shifted or moved too much and had to be removed. The second group kept their ADR but had a second operation to fuse an unstable spinal segment.
About nine percent of the 589 patients needed a second surgery or reoperation. One-third had the ADR taken out and replaced with a smaller size implant. The rest of the patients were converted to a fusion with bone graft. There were five cases of spine instability after ADR from a vertebral fracture.
The authors conclude proper placement with the new, improved ADRs available today should reduce and even eliminate the need for reoperation after an ADR. CHARITÉ artificial disc should never be used when there is a fracture or unstable spinal segment. Patient selection and preparing the disc space are key factors to success with ADRs.
References: Paul C. McAfee, MD, et al. Revisability of the CHARITÉ Artificial Disc Replacement. In Spine. May 15, 2006. Vol. 31. No. 1. Pp. 1217-1226.
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