Below you will find key information you need to Know when deciding on artificial disc replacement.

Artificial disc replacement surgery is a relatively new surgical procedure that began with early clinical trials in Europe and then continued in the United States after the FDA approved the procedure for the lumbar spine. Prior to undergoing this surgery there are a number of factors that should be considered and prove helpful for the patient and doctor to make the decision to move forward with the procedure.

Disc Replacement Surgeon, Training and Skills

Throughout history the extent of training spine surgeons have undergone before employing new technology has varied greatly. Many of the better surgeons will seek out a level of training that is equivalent to what was used in the FDA’s trial, although unfortunately this is not always the case. Currently there is no accepted or well defined standard for appropriate training of surgeons wanting to undertake new technologies.

The company that manufactures the Charite artificial disc has specified that any surgeon prior to performing surgery with their product should undergo extensive training sponsored by DePuy Spine. The training is comprised of mandatory assisted artificial disc surgery procedures alongside other trained surgeons, consulting with other surgeons in the field, along with attending lectures and reviewing educational material.

Disc Replacement Success Rate, Surgeon Skills

One of the key factors to disc replacement success rate is the skill and experience level of the surgeon performing the surgery. Unfortunately information such as surgeon’s previous outcomes is not widely available, making it difficult for a patient to access it. There are two ways that you could go about gathering information before coming to a decision. You could ask your referring physician what they think of the surgeon, or you could seek out patients that have undergone surgery with that surgeon to find out what their opinion is. The second one is a little more difficult as you would need to find these patients without the help of the surgeon you are considering.

Artificial Disc Replacement Cost

The average cost of artificial disc replacement surgery ranges from $35,000 to $45,000 US. Unfortunately in the eyes of most insurance companies the procedure is still deemed to be experimental or unproven. Coverage is often only partial if any at all. As of this date, Medicare and Medicaid will only provide a partial reimbursement of your surgery cost. It is not known when or if this will change in the future.