Early Results of Total Disc Replacement Reported

False teeth. Breast implants. Pacemakers. Hip and knee joint replacements. Heart transplants. Seems like more and more body parts can be repaired, removed, or replaced. What's next?

Disc replacements! Actually, researchers have been studying disc replacements for the spine since the 1950s (even before heart transplants were available). There have been more than 70 patents issued for these devices. Only a few have actually been put to use in patients.

The most common total disc replacement (TDR) is one from Germany called the SB Charité III. The III means it's the third design of the device. The first two were prototypes. Only the third one has actually been used in patients.

There aren't too many studies on the results of TDR with this implant. So far all the reported studies have been positive. This study from the Texas Back Institute adds to that list. Of the 57 patients getting the SB Charité III, everyone got pain relief and better function. The results were still good two years later. None of the implants failed. There were no fractures, slippage, or dislocation of the TDRs.

The doctors at the Texas Back Institute aren't stopping here. They want to combine data collected from many centers to see the results in a large number of patients. They want to know how TDRs compare with fusion cages used in similar patients. They are already planning to let us know the results in the near future.