Is artificial disc replacement surgery experimental? | Dr. Todd Lanman
I still hear from patients who tell me that they've been told that artificial disc replacement surgery is still experimental. They hear it from other doctors, insurance companies, and others who basically repeat what they've heard. Artificial disc replacement surgery has been around for nearly 30 years, introduced in Europe back in the 1980s. The procedure was first approved by the FDA in 2005 with subsequent approvals for additional procedures.
Artificial disc replacement is the newest among other treatments. Introduced in 2005 for lumbar applications and in 2007 for cervical, it is a significant surgical alternative to the decades' old method of spinal fusion, introduced in 1950. Moreover, as artificial disc replacement (or "ADR") is as invasive as fusion, all current studies show better patient outcomes in every way: regarding the reduction of pain complaint, neurological function, and fewer revision surgeries.
Both post-operative studies involved nearly 400 patients – randomly selected from 30 U.S. medical facilities. About half of the patients underwent two-level cervical disc replacement, and the remainder were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). The focus of our study was to measure overall success based on some clinical criteria, namely pain complaint, post-operative revisions, flexibility and movement, and other factors.
Of those who were disc replacement patients, the success rate was 81.4%. Of those who underwent fusion, the success rate was 69.4%. The seven-year study noted “statistical superiority” over fusion.
Dr. Lanman is a board-certified neurosurgery specialist practicing medicine for 25 years with a private practice in Beverly Hills, CA. He specializes in the treatment of spinal disorders and is a leading clinical advocate for artificial disc replacement surgery. He is a professor at the University of California Los Angeles, and a member of the Cedars-Sinai Institute of Spinal Disorders.
As a leading innovator in the treatment of spinal disorders, as well as a media educator and contributor, Lanman has published more than ten peer-reviewed articles, as well as book chapters on topics relating to neurological surgery, and has presented more than two dozen papers at national and regional medical society meetings. He has been tapped by colleagues to be the principal medical investigator on a broad swath of clinical trials for motion preserving surgeries and artificial disc replacement devices, most recently the Prestige LP and M6, with the former recently receiving FDA pre-market approval in 2016 with his continuous support and advocacy.
Part of his constant advocacy for patients stems from his own experience as a patient. His unique insights helped him develop a program called "4D Health Process." The "process" helps him guide patients to think about their health more comprehensively and holistically. The process also incorporates some different factors including one’s age, daily lifestyle, nutrition, hormone status, physical exercise routine, and of course spine and joint health to paint a complete picture of one’s health from a four-dimensional perspective.
The "4D" program relies on his meticulous analysis of each patient's current physical condition, their lifestyle, and treatment goals. He uses his decades of knowledge and expertise to shift the emphasis for how we view healthy living, aging, and the treatment of spinal disorders. His unique medical treatment approach helps him map out an entire preventative and forward-thinking strategy to help his patients live an active, healthy life, with the full natural movement of their spine. His stated goal is to help patients be greater than "better."
Dr. Lanman graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL with top honors and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed a general surgery internship and neurological surgery residency at UCLA. He is an active member of many professional societies and organizations including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), North American Spine Society (NASS), and Fellow American College of Surgeons. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS).
CREDITS
Editing: Ray Wyman http://www.raywyman.com
Management: Brandi Kamenar https://www.brandikamenar.com/