Abstract
Fusion has been the surgical reference for treating degenerative disc disease, nevertheless in the last two decades the recognition of it’s inconvenients, such as the degenerescence of the adjacent level, the growing demand for a better life quality by the patients and the evolution of the knowledge regarding the biomechanics of the spine and of the intervetebral disc itself, have stimulated the development of new technologies for the treatment of DDD among which the Disc Replacement.
In this symposium will be analysed the biomechanics of the disc and disc replacement, enhancing the already known benefits of the movement preservation, by discussing the different philosophies of the available systems: non-constraint; semi-constraint; and constraint.
The analysis of the overview results in the literature of fusion in comparison with disc replacement will also proportionate a fundamental actualization when deciding over the current perspectives in the treatment of DDD, considering the treatment alternatives developed in the meanwhile.
The disc replacement is an actual challenge with believers all over the world as an important step forward towards better life quality of patients with incapacitant low back pain. But with indications and limits that must be well known. Besides that it’s a demanding technique with potential risks associated and that demands specialization in this domain for its practice.
Always considering the different phases of evolution of the DDD, which can occur simultaneously in the same patient, different therapeutics solutions are considerate and which application deserves a profound reflexion according to the diagnosis characteristics, its staging, the ponderation of risks and benefits and as well its socioeconomics consequences.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
