Slipped & Herniated Disc Treatment Options
Slipped discs, sometimes referred to as herniated or prolapsed discs, occur when the soft cushion of tissue (nucleus pulposus) in discs between the vertebrae of your spine pushes out, causing the disc (or disc fragments) to move from its natural position.
Symptoms such as acute sciatica and lumbar back pain are present when the disc or disc fragments push on spinal nerves or cause inflammation.
Symptoms resolve naturally for the majority of patients. However, approximately 10% of patients require surgical intervention as symptoms become acute and cannot be managed by medication or physical therapies.
What Treatments are Available for Slipped/Herniated Discs?
Steroid injections
Steroid injections generally provide temporary relief of symptoms by treating inflammation around the site of slipped or herniated discs which often returns.
Discectomy
A discectomy involves removing fragments of a degenerated disc which are pressing on spinal nerves.
Whilst minimally invasive, discectomy only provides temporary relief as further disc degeneration typically occurs, allowing fresh disc fragments to push on spinal nerves or cause inflammation.
Patients often undergo repeat discectomies as, unlike Prodisc® L total lumbar disc replacement, the procedure does not treat the root cause of symptoms.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a procedure which fuses vertebrae together using titanium screws and rods, allowing the diseased natural disc to be removed.
The procedure carries significant risk as it is undertaken through the back in proximity to the spinal cord. Permanent nerve damage can occur and spinal mobility is permanently impaired.
Adjacent discs are placed under greater stress which often causes future issues.
The procedure affects back muscles which can prolong recovery time and increase the risk of complications. Returning to strenuous activities and sports is not certain.
How Does SpinePro Treat Slipped or Herniated Discs?
Treatments Compared
| Prodisc® L | Discectomy | Spinal Fusion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcomes & Recovery | |||
| Effects of intervention | Permanent | Temporary | Permanent |
| Post-operative mobility | Full | Limited | Limited |
| Return to strenuous exercise and sports | 6 to 12 months | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Post-operative hospital stay | 2 days* | 2 days | Up to 1 week |
| Lumbar back brace | Not required | Generally not required | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Risks | |||
| Risk of nerve or spinal cord damage | Minimal | Moderate to High | Moderate to High |
| Risk of problems in later life / adjacent segment disease (attributable to surgery) | Minimal | Yes | Yes |
| Revision surgery rate (required to improve patient outcome after initial procedure) | <1% | N/A | 8% to 45% |
| The Procedure | |||
| Approximate duration of procedure | 45 minutes | 45 minutes | 2 hours |
| Typical perioperative blood loss | Minimal, <100ml | Minimal, <100ml | Significant, >500ml |
| Location of incision | Abdomen | Back | Back |
*The patient arrives at CCV Montpellier the night before the operation (Tuesday) and stays for two nights after the operation before leaving for their hotel on Friday. The hospital stay is three nights in total.
In Summary
Prodisc® L total disc replacement is the only solution that permanently relieves pain, carries minimal risk, restores spinal mobility and provides a return to strenuous activities and sports.