artificial disc

[Guest guest]

> I thought I'd let everyone know the lumbar artifical disc have been

> approved by the FDA

I think it's very important to differentiate between the various

lumbar intervertebral disc replacement procedures when mentioning

something as important as this. The Link-Charite is the one referred

to as having been approved recently, according to my information.

The ProDisc (the only one I would consider and am still waiting for,

despite the pain) is several months away from approval, hopefully by

June. I think the Charite has a mediocre track record, with plenty

of device failures. The ProDisc, on the other hand, is much better

designed and has an insignificant number of failures, the postop

negative results coming almost entirely from surgical complications

surrounding the laparotic procedure rather than the preparation for

and installation of the disc itself. These complications can be

almost completely avoided with good operating room procedure,

competent laparoscopic surgical technique and surgeon training and

practice. The single device failure I'm aware of was due to faulty

manufacturing technique of the disc insert itself, not overall device

design, and was shortly thereafter replace easily with no further

complications. After this experience I'm confident no further faulty

discs will be allowed beyond the inspection stage of the manufacturer.

If you look closely at the history of the ProDisc you will see that

initial testing was started around 15 years ago on a very small

number of patients and suspended for several years to determine

long-range effectiveness before proceding on a wider scale. A very

small number of modifications were made during the life of this

device, none of which appear to have been directly as a result of

device failure but rather intuitive improvements to an excellent

pre-existing design.

[Guest guest]

The second link talks about this one I listed both for everyone to

read. Anyone who has gone thru years of fighting lower back pain and

multiple drs and surgeries will know that if you want to find

answers LOOK FOR THEM YOURSELF! Many of our dr's are wonderful

people BUT they are way too busy to find all the answers for

everyone. I myself found out years ago if I left it up to the first

few dr's I had seen I'd have NEVER HAD ANY RELIEF at all, from Meds

or surgeries. Hence I pushed on and on to find the answers to my own

problems. I Still refuse to stop looking for the answers I need and

The prosdisc is the answer for me. I have spent hrs and hrs

searching for the answers to help relieve my lower back and INTENSE

Sciatic nerve pain that involves my ENTIRE nerve even around my

foot. What I am saying to everyone is this: DON'T GIVE UP LOOKING

FOR HELP, just because ONE dr says No doesn't mean another doesn't

have the answer you seek. And if you want to wait for dr's to find

the answers for you that is your decision but I WILL NOT and that is

why I posted this note, to help others like me and you who are

suffering. Both disc's are listed in that note, so everyone please

read and follow the links if you want more answers. Happy holidays

to all. Sharon ~*~*~*~* group owner*~*~*~*~*~*

PRODISC®: A Type of Artificial Disc

PRODISC® is the second artificial disc currently under

investigation

through an FDA study. In the early 1990's, Dr. Thierry Marnay, a

French surgeon developed PRODISC®. In October 2001 the first

PRODISC® was implanted at the Texas Back Institute, the primary

investigator site of approximately 10 investigating sites in the

United States.

PRODISC® (Spine Solutions, New York, NY, USA)

To date, approximately 70 patients have undergone implantation of

the PRODISC® prosthesis. Good to excellent results with some

patients returning to near-normal activities. General availability

of this product in the United States is pending results from the FDA

study, which are at least two years in the future.

Conclusion

Initial results seem positive, and artificial discs may prove to be

a breakthrough for patients suffering chronic low back pain, who did

not respond to nonsurgical treatment. We are hopeful that within the

next two years we will have the ability to begin implanting

artificial discs.

Cervical Artificial Disc Preserves Neck Mobility: Part 2

Artificial Disc Replacement

Case Report: 50-Year-Old Male Treated with PRODISC®

Back Pain Treatment Options

Back Care When Pregnant - Maintaining a Healthy Spine

PRODISC® Artificial Disc Clinical Trial Centers

>

> > I thought I'd let everyone know the lumbar artifical disc have

been

> > approved by the FDA

>

> I think it's very important to differentiate between the various

> lumbar intervertebral disc replacement procedures when mentioning

> something as important as this. The Link-Charite is the one

referred

> to as having been approved recently, according to my information.

>

> The ProDisc (the only one I would consider and am still waiting

for,

> despite the pain) is several months away from approval, hopefully

by

> June. I think the Charite has a mediocre track record, with plenty

> of device failures. The ProDisc, on the other hand, is much better

> designed and has an insignificant number of failures, the postop

> negative results coming almost entirely from surgical complications

> surrounding the laparotic procedure rather than the preparation for

> and installation of the disc itself. These complications can be

> almost completely avoided with good operating room procedure,

> competent laparoscopic surgical technique and surgeon training and

> practice. The single device failure I'm aware of was due to faulty

> manufacturing technique of the disc insert itself, not overall

device

> design, and was shortly thereafter replace easily with no further

> complications. After this experience I'm confident no further

faulty

> discs will be allowed beyond the inspection stage of the

manufacturer.

>

> If you look closely at the history of the ProDisc you will see that

> initial testing was started around 15 years ago on a very small

> number of patients and suspended for several years to determine

> long-range effectiveness before proceding on a wider scale. A very

> small number of modifications were made during the life of this

> device, none of which appear to have been directly as a result of

> device failure but rather intuitive improvements to an excellent

> pre-existing design.

[Guest guest]

I was reading an interview about MR neurography, open MRI surgery, etc. And the

article

included the following paragraph about artificial disc patient outcomes. I think

people

considering the surgery may be interested in this.

" ADRSupport: How many artificial disc patients have been imaged? What have you

seen or

learned from these studies?

Dr. Filler: We are seeing significant numbers of patients with artificial disk

replacement (ADR)

who were not helped by their ADR surgery. The ADR causes some image artifacts,

but the

MRN scans are still very helpful. We have found that surgeons are more likely to

place an ADR

when they are uncertain of the diagnosis than in the old days of fusion only. In

many cases,

this is because of patient enthusiasm for the ADR as well as the perception that

they are less

invasive than a fusion. We have also imaged patients in whom the ADR was placed

off center

and is causing a nerve impingement. "

Quote taken from

http://adrsupport.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7801036081/m/8851078891