Total Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery With Prodisc® L
Total lumbar disc replacement treats degenerative disc disease symptoms such as severe lower back pain and chronic sciatica caused by a herniated disc by removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial one. Unlike spinal fusion, lumbar disc replacement restores natural mobility rather than permanently immobilising it.
Also known as lumbar disc arthroplasty, artificial disc replacement, or simply disc replacement surgery, the procedure performed at CCV Montpellier uses Prodisc® L – the artificial disc invented at CCV Montpellier in 1990 and now the most widely implanted lumbar disc prosthesis in the world.
- Treats the root cause of your pain to permanently relieve symptoms in a single procedure
- Restores spinal mobility, allowing a full return to strenuous activities and sports
- Treatment is typically available within 8 weeks for suitable candidates, subject to a successful surgical assessment
- 91.8% of CCV patients would have the surgery again
- CCV Montpellier is the global gold standard for the procedure, undertaking more than 800 Prodisc® L procedures every year, considerably more than any other clinic.
SpinePro is the exclusive international partner of CCV Montpellier, the pioneering French clinic where the Prodisc® L artificial disc was invented. SpinePro arranges everything from your initial MRI review to your medically supervised recovery at home.
Who Is a Candidate for Lumbar Disc Replacement?
Lumbar disc replacement may be right for you if:
- You have severe lower back pain, with or without chronic sciatica
- Conservative treatment such as medication and physical therapies no longer provide lasting relief
- Your MRI shows one or more severely herniated discs or degenerative disc disease in your lumbar spine
- You want to restore spinal mobility and return to an active, pain-free life
Already had a discectomy? You may still be a candidate. CCV’s published data shows patients with prior disc surgery achieve equivalent long-term outcomes to those having disc replacement as their first procedure.[2]
Find Out If Lumbar Disc Replacement Is Right for You
If you have a recent lumbar MRI, our surgeons can review your case and advise whether you’re a candidate for treatment, at no cost. Treatment is typically available within 8 weeks for suitable candidates, subject to a successful surgical assessment.
What to Expect
The procedure is minimally invasive, performed through a small abdominal incision.
Incision size
Total surgery duration
Average hospital stay
Hotel stay in Montpellier
Return home to the UK
Minimum time off work
Resume driving
Average recovery time
Resume light exercise
Full competitive sports
* These are average times, with possibility of variation from one patient to another.
How Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery Works
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon accesses the degenerated disc through a small incision in the abdomen (~5-8 cm), without making an incision through back muscles, avoiding spinal nerves entirely.
Degenerated natural discs are removed and replaced with artificial discs. The only tissue cut is the outer abdominal muscle layer, which is sutured closed at the end. The procedure is minimally invasive, resulting in a swift recovery and fast return to work.
Why Operate Through the Abdomen?
The disc is in the front part of the spine, while the nerves run through the spinal canal at the back of the spine. By accessing the disc from the front, the Prodisc® L implant can be safely placed without disturbing spinal nerves.
Because of this, there is minimal risk of nerve damage such as permanent numbness, tingling, or burning resulting from the procedure. In addition, recovery times are short and post-operative pain is usually described as ‘discomfort’, since muscles do not have to heal after being cut.
Recurrent Herniated Discs/Discectomies
It is important to understand that the purpose of a discectomy is to relieve the compression of the nerve by a disc fragment, but it does not treat the degenerative disc disease responsible for the herniation which will continue to progress with deteriorating symptoms.
Total lumbar disc replacement with the Prodisc® L treats the diseased disc and the herniation in a single procedure by totally replacing the degenerated disc, eliminating the need for repeat discectomies or other procedures.
35 Years of Evidence
Would have surgery again
Patient satisfaction
Lowest published revision rate
Since first procedure
A revision rate of 0.67% means fewer than 1 in 150 patients required further surgery, even after two decades. These figures come from a 2024 study tracking 1,187 CCV patients for up to 21 years – the largest and longest single-centre follow-up ever published for total lumbar disc replacement.[2]
The History of Prodisc® L
From Dr Thierry Marnay’s very first patients to global success
Patients implanted with the Prodisc® L in 1990 are still being monitored at the CCV Montpellier, making it the most experienced centre in the world for Prodisc® L lumbar disc replacement surgery.
Dr Thierry Marnay
Prodisc® L inventor
1st Prodisc® L at the CCV in Montpellier
1st Prodisc® L in the USA
Dr Thierry Marnay trains American surgeons
After adoption across Europe in the late 1990s, the Prodisc® L became available globally, following FDA approval in 2006.
Patients who underwent the first disc replacements in the early 1990s at CCV Montpellier are still being monitored and, for the moment, no patient has required a replacement implant.
Consequently, Prodisc® L prosthesis lifespan is considered to be at least 40 years.
Constantly in pain?
Suffering from chronic sciatica or severe lower back pain and have an MRI scan? Submit your surgical assessment to see if lumbar disc replacement surgery is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose Prodisc® L for lumbar disc replacement?
Prodisc® L is the best treatment for herniated discs caused by degenerative disc disease.
It is the only treatment proven to:
- Permanently relieve symptoms such as chronic sciatica and severe lower back pain in a single procedure
- Treat the root cause of your pain by safely replacing your degenerated natural disc(s) with an artificial disc with a lifespan in excess of 40 years
- Restore spinal mobility, allowing a full return to strenuous activities and sports
- Provide a swift recovery and a fast return to work
- Not cause problems in other parts of the spine in later life
Why travel to France for lumbar disc replacement?
CCV Montpellier is the global gold standard for the procedure, undertaking more than 800 Prodisc® L procedures every year, considerably more than any other clinic.
CCV Montpellier invented Prodisc® L, and their surgeons have performed the procedure for over 35 years – longer than anyone else in the world.
Their published outcomes, including a 0.67% revision rate across more than 1,000 patients followed for up to 21 years[2], provide strong evidence that Prodisc® L total lumbar disc replacement is the best treatment for herniated discs caused by degenerative disc disease.
SpinePro arranges and manages everything, so travelling to France for lumbar disc replacement assures the best possible outcome and is no more complex than being treated closer to home.
How long do I have to wait for treatment?
Treatment is typically available within 8 weeks for suitable candidates, subject to a successful surgical assessment.
How long does a Prodisc® L lumbar disc implant last?
Patients who received the first Prodisc® L implants at CCV in 1990 are still being monitored, and none have required a replacement implant. The expected lifespan is considered to be at least 40 years.
When can I return to sport after lumbar disc replacement?
Light exercise is usually possible from around 12 weeks. Return to competitive sport is usually between 6 and 12 months, depending on the individual. CCV’s long-term data includes patients who have returned to high-impact activities and you can find some stories on our patient testimonials page.
How much does Prodisc® L lumbar disc replacement cost?
The cost of lumbar disc replacement surgery at CCV through SpinePro starts at £36,000, inclusive of surgery, hospital stay, hotel recuperation in Montpellier, personalised nursing care on your return home and all travel expenses.
SpinePro is currently only able to assist patients who are self-funding; we are not able to work with health insurance providers at this time.
Can lumbar disc replacement be done at more than one level?
Yes, up to four levels can be treated in a single procedure. CCV routinely performs two-level disc replacement, and their published outcomes show equivalent results to single-level procedures.
Why is the surgery performed through the abdomen rather than the back?
Intervertebral discs sit at the front of the spinal column, while the spinal nerves run through the spinal canal at the back. By approaching from the front, the surgeon can replace the damaged disc with an artificial one without disturbing spinal nerves, which is why the risk of nerve damage from this procedure is very low.
How long will I be off work after lumbar disc replacement?
The procedure is minimally invasive providing a rapid recovery and fast return to work.
The minimum time off work is typically two weeks, though this depends significantly on the nature of your job. Desk-based workers often return within two to four weeks; those in physically demanding roles may need longer. Your surgeon will advise based on your individual recovery progress.
Is lumbar disc replacement safer than spinal fusion?
Neither procedure is risk-free, but total lumbar disc replacement with Prodisc® L carries a significantly lower risk than spinal fusion based on a number of factors. Please see our page comparing treatments for more details.
Revision surgery to correct a Prodisc® L procedure undertaken by CCV Montpellier is extremely rare. Complications are less than 1 in 100.[2] The most common complication is haematoma (blood clotting) around the incision which is easily resolved.
Can I have lumbar disc replacement if I've already had a discectomy?
In many cases, yes. CCV’s published data shows that patients with prior disc surgery achieve equivalent long-term outcomes to those having disc replacement as their first procedure. Submit your MRI via our surgical assessment service and our surgeons will advise whether you’re a candidate.
References
- Data from follow-up questionnaire of 2,143 patients receiving a disc replacement at CCV Montpellier since 1999
- Clinical Outcomes After 1 and 2-Level Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty, 1,187 Patients with 7 to 21-Year Follow-up – The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, 2024