Back pain is one of the most common problems people face daily. This pain naturally builds up due to ageing, previous injury or poor posture. In some serious cases, patients with chronic spinal problems tend to face severe back pain daily, which also limits their movement. Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR) is a major advancement in the field of orthopaedics, catering to issues related to spinal instability and other similar conditions.
According to a top spine surgeon in Siliguri, if you are considering surgical options for your back pain, you need to get a better understanding of the procedure. In this blog, we will discuss the procedure in detail, while also focusing on the recovery process. The major aim of this blog is to help you be well-informed to decide on your possible surgery.
Understanding Artificial Disc Replacement
This procedure is also known as total disc arthroplasty and comprises the complete removal and replacement of a damaged spinal disc. The spinal disc is usually replaced with a prosthetic one. It helps in the natural movement of the spine and the spacing between the vertebrae by reducing the pain caused by a herniated disc.
While getting the traditional fusion spinal surgery in Siliguri tends to permanently join two or more vertebrae to reduce pain, the spine remains flexible with ADR surgery. It also effectively addresses the problem related to the deterioration of spinal levels nearby by which often happens after spinal fusion surgery.
Why is ADR Performed?
Spinal discs act like cushions between the vertebrae, absorbing the shock and retaining flexibility. As stated by a spine surgeon in Siliguri, when these tend to start deteriorating, they can create serious issues related to back and neck pain. ADR is performed for various conditions which often affect the lower back and the cervical region, causing problems with mobility and severe pain. Some of the conditions treated by the condition are
Degenerative Disc Disease – This conditions cause degeneration of the spinal disc due to ageing, or wear and tear. It is also related to constricted mobility and chronic neck/ back pain.
Herniated Disc – The softer inner section of a disc tends to leak out or bulge in this condition, which causes compression on the nearby nerves.
Post-Discectomy Syndrome – If you have previously gone through a disc surgery, you can be affected by this syndrome, which causes persistent pain
Cervical Radiculopathy – Due to the damaged disc in the neck region, this condition causes severe nerve pain, weakness in he arms and numbness.
Who Should Get an ADR?
It is not essential for every individual affected with neck or back pain to opt for spine surgery in Siliguri. Ideally, candidates who are diagnosed with single-level disc degeneration are suggested by spine surgeons to undergo this surgery, as it helps them retain their flexibility. It is also an essential surgery for patients who wish to get stable spinal alignment. However, it cannot be performed for patients who have been affected with severe arthritis in the facet joints.
Patients who have a healthy BMI and have never had major spinal surgeries are also suggested for this surgery for their back conditions. According to an expert spine surgeon in Siliguri, this procedure cannot be done for patients who have severely damaged discs or osteoporosis.
The Surgical Procedure of ADR
ADR only takes about 3-4 hours and is usually done while the patient is under general anaesthesia. To get to know more about this procedure, let us go through each of its steps in detail.
1. Assessing the spine
This step is different for lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck region) ADR. In the first surgery, the incision in made into the abdomen to get to the spine from the front. In the cervical the incision is made through the front of the neck.
2. Removing the Damaged Disc
Through the use of specialised tools in this phase, an expert spine surgeon in Siliguri can fully extract the workout disc. During this process, they also work hard to maintain he surrounding structure and ligament in the region.
3. Inserting Artificial Disc
A prosthetic disc is introduced in this phase, which is usually made up of combining etal and medical-grade plastic. The disc space is filled with this space, after which it replicates the movement and absorbs shock just like the natural disc.
4. Closing the Incision
Lastly, the incision is closed by the surgeon, and the patient is moved to the recovery room for further observation.
Recovery Process after ADR
When it comes to the process of recovery, it is way quicker and active as compared to getting a traditional spinal surgery in Siliguri. While it is not highly suggested, most patients can walk 24 hours after the surgery. In the first week, the patients are to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days for monitoring, during which patients may face pain and stiffness near the incision. During this phase, it is essential to look out for risks related to infection, bleeding, nerve damage, and implant dislocation.
While patients can get back to their usual routine after 1-3 months, they would still need to follow restrictions related to lifting things nd go for regular follow-ups. At 3+ months, the patients tend to make a complete recovery and experience improvement in their spinal motions, along with reduced pain in the regions.
Conclusion
Artificial Disc Replacement is reshaping the future of spine surgery by offering a motion-preserving alternative to traditional fusion. If you’re experiencing chronic back or neck pain that hasn’t improved with non-surgical treatments, don’t wait for the condition to worsen. A consultation with a spine surgeon in Siliguri can help determine whether ADR or another treatment option is best suited for you.
