Spine Services

If you have ever been told you need spine surgery, there is a new option for you at Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute – artificial disc replacement.

In this procedure, worn or damaged disc material found between the bones in the spine (vertebrae) is removed and replaced with a synthetic or “artificial” disc.

The goal of this procedure is to relieve back pain while maintaining more normal motion than is allowed with some other spine procedures, such as spinal fusions.

Most of these procedures take from 2 to 3 hours. Your surgeon will approach your lower back from the front through an incision in your abdomen. With this approach, the organs and blood vessels are moved to the side to allow your surgeon access your spine without moving the nerves. Usually, a vascular surgeon assists the orthopaedic surgeon with opening and exposing the disk space.

In most cases, patients are encouraged to stand and walk by the first day after surgery. Because bone healing is not required following artificial disk replacement as it is with spinal fusion, the typical patient is encouraged to move through the mid-section. Early motion in the trunk area may lead to quicker rehabilitation and recovery.