Lumbar Artificial Disk Replacement

Lumbar Artificial DISK Replacement

Living in a high-tech community, driven by innovation; it’s no surprise that our medical providers demenstrate advancements in their daily practice. On June 6, 2019 – Huntsville surgeon, Kurt Fruedenberger, MD performed a lumbar disc replacement using a 3rd generation activeL. This newly introduced implant will be a game changer for our area spine surgeons. In fact, it once again puts Huntsville on the map as the first city in Alabama to offer the latest generation Aesculap artificial lumbar disc, a disc designed to address chronic low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. In contrast with other treatments such as spinal fusion, the activL Artificial Disc is designed to more closely mirror the natural movement of the healthy human spine following surgery.

450,000 Americans will have spine surgery each year because of chronic low back pain. “Lost work time due to chronic back pain is something that many of my patients are significantly concerned with and for good reason,” said Dr. Freudenberger. By the time that chronic back pain patients seek out surgical options for their chronic pain, studies have shown that 30% are narcotic dependent and out of work.

“For me, the evidence for motion preserving surgery like this one made sense. I saw that there were benefits to the procedure that would help some of my more active patients,” said Dr. Freudenberger. Fusions have been associated with causing patients with low back pain to start experiencing pain at levels adjacent to their initial fusion several years after their surgery. In clinical studies, patients who received a lumbar artificial disc were three times less likely to have adjacent level problems five years after their procedure than patients who received a fusion. “Not every patient is going to be a candidate for this procedure and that’s OK,” said Dr. Freudenberger. “Fusion isn’t a bad procedure, if it is indicated. Still it’s important that patients have access to providers and facilities that will consider the best option for each patient’s anatomical needs.”

The literature supports that within six-months of lumbar artificial disc surgery more than 86% of back pain patients will go back to full-time employment without restrictions and because of their decreased pain and increased function will be able to stay off narcotics. “The activL trial found that 98.5% of lumbar disc patients are still narcotic free more than five years after surgery,” said Dr. Freudenberger.

“The benefits of artificial lumbar disc replacement have been equal to my experience with cervical disc replacement. My patient was up and waking the same day of surgery with her old pain completely gone,” he said. “In addition to addressing painful symptoms caused by degenerative disc disease, minimizing recovery time, preserving disc space between the vertebrae, maintaining range of motion in the spine, and reducing the possibility for future surgeries are all key factors when thinking about surgical options for patients. Artificial disc replacement accomplishes these goals and allows patients to get back to the activities they enjoy.”

About Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC, a B. Braun company, is part of a 175-year-old global organization focused on meeting the needs of the changing healthcare environment. Through close collaboration with its customers, Aesculap Implant Systems develops advanced spine and orthopaedic implant technologies to treat complex disorders of the spine, hip and knee. Aesculap Implant Systems strives to deliver products and services that improve the quality of patients’ lives. For more information, call 800-234-9179 or visit aesculapimplantsystems.com.

Dr. Curt Freudenberger is the First Spine Surgeon in Alabama to Offer the activL® Artificial Disc Replacement for Chronic Low Back Pain

http://alabamadisc.com/