Objective: To determine the success of the Anterior Lateral transPsoatic Approach (ALPA) for implanting the PDN disc nucleus prosthesis.

Design: Eight patients were implanted with the PDN device via the ALPA technique. After making a 4cm incision in the lateral-abdominal area, the peritoneum was accessed and followed medially towards the lumbar spine, where a blunt-dissection technique through the psoas muscle was used to reach the disc. The anulus was then incised, and the nucleus material was removed before inserting the PDN device into the vacated disc cavity.

Subjects: Five female and three male patients, all with moderate degenerative disc disease, were implanted. Average age was 44.5 years (+/− 8.3). Seven patients were implanted at L4–L5 and one at L2–L3. These eight subjects were followed for twelve months.

Outcome measures: Improvements in Oswestry scores and disc-height measurements were considered indicative of implant success.

Results: Oswestry scores improved from a preoperative mean of 33.8 (+/− 15.1) to a postoperative mean of 10.0 (+/− 11.1), and disc height increased from a preoperative mean of 8.6mm (+/−2.4) to 9.4mm (+/− 2.3) postoperatively.

Conclusion: The ALPA technique facilitates implantation of the PDN device, with excellent clinical results.