Disk replacement surgery is done to retain movement and remove pain in the spine and this is achieved by removing the injured disc and replacing it with an artificial disc which is made of either metal or plastic. It not only relieves back pain but also helps to maintain a comparatively normal motion than one could get with some other procedures.
Although it sounds like a better option as compared to other procedures like fusion because fusion prevents normal motion in spine and
artificial spine replacement surgery aims at retaining as much normal movement as possible, it is also a very complicated surgery that can lead to many problems like wear-and-tear of ions in the blood from metal- or plastic-device breakdown, revision surgeries, ongoing pain, and even adjacent segment disease which are typically associated with fusions due to abnormal motion in the spine so, there are quite a few problems that are associated with the artificial spine replacement surgery as well. And there are also the risks that are associated with any surgery which include anaesthesia complications, blood clots, allergic reactions and adverse effects due to undiagnosed medical problems, like silent heart disease.
Complications and risks that are associated with spine surgery may include
• allergic reaction to the implant material
• there is also a possibility of implants bending, breaking, loosening, or moving from their positions
• bending or breaking of the instruments is also possible which would be rather complicated another complication in itself
• wounds also become infectious
• there is also a chance of pain in the neck and difficulty swallowing
• patients are also seen to have a speech impairment or change in speech
• there is also a chance of nerve or spinal cord injury which can lead to paralysis, patients may experience numbness or tingling in extremities
• there could be a tear in dura which is the protective membrane covering the spinal cord
• there is also a chance that the patient may have a hematoma which is bleeding or collection of clotted blood cells and formation of blood clots which might also result in blood from flowing without any restrictions and possibly result in a stroke, swelling of the tissue, changes in mental status (although it is very rare)
• complications of pregnancy which includes miscarriage and other fetal birth defects are also seen in women
• some patients are also unable to resume normal daily living activities
• some patients are also seen to be unable to perform sexual activity after the surgery
• there is also the risk that this surgical procedure will not be effective and may not relieve any symptoms and may even worsen them instead.
So, if you are having spine pain, first of all, there is no need to worry as back pain is very common nowadays and the problem can be cured just by maintaining a good posture or some exercises. Therefore it is a wise idea to consult a specialist before making any hasty and half-informed decisions as the surgeon will be able to tell you if you require a surgery and also if you do require a surgery whether you are a good candidate for the surgery or not based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, discography, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, X-rays as information from these sources will help to determine the cause of back pain.
Patient's in whom back pain is caused by one or two problematic intervertebral disks in the lumbar spine or those people that have significant facet joint disease or bony compression on spinal nerves or are not excessively overweight or have no prior major surgery on the lumbar spine or any deformity of the spine are good candidates for the surgery.
The surgery will take about two to three hours to perform depending on the complications and specifics of the case, however, sometimes it may take longer and involves the removal of the problematic disc and inserting an artificial one in its place by making an incision in the abdomen and moving blood vessels and organs to the side to access the spine without damaging the nerves.
Patients are usually required to stay in the hospitals for one to three days following the surgery and are released as soon as the wound heals. They can return back to performing their normal functions without feeling much pain in some days.