Does Medicare cover spinal disc replacement surgery?
Medicare does not currently have a national coverage determination (NCD) on lumbar artificial disc replacement. Coverage for the procedure is overseen by local Medicare contractors. Medicare also does not have a NCD for other spinal surgeries for degenerative disc disease.
How long do replacement spinal discs last?
For most patients, an artificial disc replacement will last an average of 70 years without the need for a revision artificial disc replacement.
Can an artificial disc move?
It is possible for the disc implant to move over time if its attachment to the bone weakens, or if the device’s hardware fails. Pain not relieved. Some patients do not experience symptom relief, even if the surgery is done correctly.
Can you replace spinal discs?
Lumbar disk replacement involves replacing a worn or degenerated disk in the lower part of your spine with an artificial disk made of metal or a combination of metal and plastic. Lumbar disk replacement is generally seen as an alternative to the more common spinal fusion surgery.
Is disc replacement surgery available in Canada?
An artificial disc can only be used in one of the last two discs of the lumbar spine, L4-5 or L5-S1. LHSC is the first Canadian hospital to have artificial disc replacement surgery.
Who is a good candidate for lumbar disc replacement?
In general, lumbar disk replacement surgery might be recommended if: Your back pain mostly comes from only 1 or 2 disks in your lower spine. You have no significant joint disease or compression on the nerves of your spine. You are not excessively overweight.
Who is a good candidate for disc replacement surgery?
Generally, good candidates for disc replacement have: Back pain caused primarily by one or two intervertebral discs. No significant facet joint disease or bony compression on nerves. A healthy weight.
Where to get total disc replacement in Sydney?
Total disc replacement surgery is performed at Spine Service in Kogarah and Campbelltown, Sydney, NSW to treat back pain due to degenerative disc disease. Total disc replacement is a surgical procedure in which the diseased intervertebral discs of the spinal column are replaced with an artificial disc. Ashish Diwan on ResearchGate
How is a disk replaced in the lumbar spine?
In artificial disk replacement, worn or damaged disk material between the small bones in the spine (vertebrae) is removed and replaced with a synthetic or “artificial” disk. The goal of the procedure is to relieve back pain while maintaining more normal motion than is allowed with some other procedures, such as spinal fusion.
How is a cervical artificial disc replacement done?
A cervical artificial disc replacement is a device that is placed into the intervertebral disc space instead of a bone graft after the disc is removed with the goal of retaining as much normal motion as possible while keeping the motion segment stable.
What does total disc replacement do for back pain?
Total disc replacement is a relatively new procedure that has developed as an alternative to spinal fusion for patients who have back pain from diseased or damaged intervertebral disc. The aim of total disc replacement is to replace the damaged painful disc, while restoring motion to the spine.