This story begins in 2000, when leading spine surgeons around the world began treating patients who were experiencing chronic back pain due to damaged vertebral discs. They did this by employing a ground-breaking surgical procedure which involved the replacement of these natural “cushions” between the vertebrae with one that is artificial.
The surgical team at Texas Back Institute played a critical role in the surgical procedure, and the evolution of this artificial disc replacement procedure continues today.
Dr. Scott Blumenthal, a spine surgeon at the Center for Disc Replacement at Texas Back Institute, and one of the original pioneers of this life-changing surgery notes, “One of the fastest growing surgeries in the United States, and the entire world, is cervical artificial disc replacement. In a very small number of cases the disc may need to be changed or revised, similar to what we see in other joint replacements such as in the hip or knee. This revision surgery allows the patient to be pain-free and maintain the vertebral mobility of an artificial disc.”
Dr. Blumenthal was the lead surgeon and participated in recording a real patient who needed this revision surgery. That recording is found here: (https://texasback.com/physician/scott-l-blumenthal/).
Why Disc Replacement Revisions Are Occurring
The primary factor in the increase in disc replacement revisions is a dramatic increase in the number of patients who decide the benefits, such as spine flexibility, are more valuable than possible complications.
Dr. Blumenthal explains, “Fortunately, the incidence of these revisions is very small.” He added, “In the case of the patient shown in this video presentation, the revision surgery was due to a mismatch of size of the disc and the way the disc was moving. The important thing for patients to understand about this example is that when a disc needs to be replaced, or for some reason it is not functioning correctly, a fusion (where adjacent discs are fused together) is not always called for. In some cases, the malfunctioning artificial disc can be replaced by another disc.”
The skill of a surgeon such as Dr. Blumenthal and upgraded surgical imaging and techniques enable remarkable efficiency of this revision surgery of an artificial disc, resulting in minimal blood loss. It requires a very small incision allowing quicker patient recovery. In most cases, the patient will go home the day after the surgery.
For more information on this procedure or to schedule an interview with Dr. Blumenthal, contact Cheryl Zapata: [email protected].
With more than 45 years of experience, Texas Back Institute is a world leader in advancing spine technology, science, and education, as well as patient care. The facility is one of the largest freestanding multidisciplinary academic spine centers in the world. We’ve published and presented more studies on evidence-based spine treatments than virtually any other spine center in the country. Utilizing the latest technological advancements and medical breakthroughs, spearheading and participating in numerous FDA clinical trials, publishing and teaching new technologies, training surgeons through our fellowship program, and employing an expert medical team and compassionate staff, Texas Back Institute is dedicated to helping patients get back to their lives and families. For more information, visit: https://texasback.com/.
