Artificial Disc Surgery
March 31st, 2007When a disc within the spine is damaged, the pain that results can be devastating. It’s a problem that’s affected many people over the years, and recently, medical advancements have been made that can help to alleviate the problem. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States in October of 2004, artificial disc surgery has been shown to be an effective way of helping those with damaged discs. In this article, we’ll discuss the surgery in order to help you to understand the process.
In the past, those who have damaged discs in the back have had to undergo a surgery known as spinal fusion. Discs are located between the vertebrae of the back, allowing cushioning and shock support. When a disc is damaged, doctors often remove the disc and fuse the two vertebrae together. While it can help the sufferer, not all spinal fusion surgeries are successful. Studies have shown that the success rates for the spinal fusion surgery sit at around 75 percent. Also, the recovery time for the surgery can be extensive, requiring up to 24 months to fully take hold…
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