A lumbar disc replacement is a surgical technique that involves removing a damaged lower spine disc and replacing it with a synthetic lumbar disc. Between the ribs and the pelvis, the lumbar spine includes five intervertebral discs and vertebral bones. If one of these discs gets injured or pinches nearby nerves, it is possible to reduce pain and improve spinal mobility by removing the sick disc and substituting it with a synthetic lumbar disc. Lumbar total disc replacement surgery for the lumbar spine is a relatively new advancement in spine surgery. This technique is only recommended if non-surgical procedures have failed to provide significant relief.
People who have specific types of lower back problems who haven’t benefited from physical therapy, supportive treatments, or other medical care should consider lumbar disc replacement. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may require this treatment:
- A low backache that flares up now and again.
- A low backache that becomes worse when you bend or lift something
- Lower back muscle cramps and spasms.
- Pain shooting down the back of the leg, into the hip or buttocks
- Low back pain can be alleviated by frequently changing positions
The easiest approach to finding out if you should undergo this is to regularly consult with a spine surgeon who conducts lumbar artificial disc replacement surgeries.
What is lumbar disc replacement, and how does it work?
To evaluate the degree of the injured intervertebral disc, your surgeon will review your imaging investigations. The operating surgeon will make a cut in your belly while you are in the effect of general anesthesia. Your surgeon will then shift your muscles and organs out of the way so that your spine may be seen. Your surgeon will then extract the defective lumbar discs, including any sections of it that are pushing the nerves or nerve roots, after the area has been prepped. The prosthetic lumbar disc is placed between the two spinal bones. Your surgeon will remove any osteophytes (bone spurs) that are present. To resemble the natural spacing between the two spinal bones, your surgeon will slightly widen the gap between them. The upper half of the upper spine and the upper half of the lower spine will be prepared to receive the artificial disc. After that, the prosthetic lumbar disc is carefully implanted into the spinal cord in the correct position. The muscle and organs are then repositioned, and the abdomen’s incision is closed using hidden absorbable sutures.
Recovery from lumbar disc replacement surgery
After the lumbar total disc replacement surgery, most people spend at most one night in the hospital. The day after the surgery, you’ll be able to undertake routine chores, such as walking. For a few weeks, however, lifting heavy things must be avoided. Individuals working in professions that do not involve physical activity may well be able to work in a couple of weeks.
Your surgeon’s clinic should provide detailed advice for recovering from the surgery. Bathing and cleanliness, dressing changes, activity limits, medications, and the schedule of follow-up appointments will all be discussed.
Doctors frequently advise patients to try conservative, non-surgical therapies first before considering back surgery. Most doctors recommend waiting three months before having these procedures done because many back problems resolve on their own during that time. If non-surgical treatments have been exhausted and you still experience back pain, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery. Competent surgeons will methodically design and perform the procedure if surgery is the best line of action after non-surgical therapy.
