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Not All Disc Replacements Are Alike

Artificial disc replacement seems like a new treatment for disc problems. It's really been around for quite some time. The SB Charité model is the subject of this report. The SB is made of a cobalt chrome along with high-density polyethylene (manmade plastic). It has been in use since 1987. Over 5,000 of these discs have been implanted in patients around the world.

Not all disc replacements are the same. The authors of this report name five special features of the SB:

  • It uses a plastic surface instead of metal-on-metal or ceramic-on-ceramic.
  • It has a mobile bearing design instead of ball-and-socket. This means that motion occurs around more than one point.
  • There is a porous surface to allow tissue to fill in and around. This prevents loosening.
  • It is sterilized with gamma irridation, which has been shown to be more effective.
  • It saves on that amount of bone that has to be cut out to fit the implant.

    In this study patients receiving a SB disc replacement were compared with patients who had interbody spinal fusion with bone graft. This is the first study to compare these two treatments for disc disease.

    The authors report similar results with the two treatment options. The time it took to do the two operations was about the same. Pain levels were reduced equally. Patients improved equally in function. The authors suggest that, with careful patient selection, the SB disc replacement is a good treatment alternative to spinal fusion.

    • Reference: 

    Paul C. McAfee, et al. SB Charité Disc Replacement: Report of 60 Prospective Randomized Cases in a U. S. Center. In Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques. August 2003. Vol. 16. No. 4. Pp. 424-433.

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