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Charité total disc replacement—clinical and radiographical results after an average follow-up of 17 years

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Abstract

A retrospective clinical–radiological study to evaluate the long-term outcome after artificial disc replacement was performed. The objective is to investigate long-term results after implantation of a modular type artificial disc prosthesis in patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). Total disc replacement (TDR) is a surgical procedure intended to save segmental spinal function, and thus replace spondylodesis. Short-term results are promising, whereas long-term results are scarce. The Charité TDR is the oldest existing implant, therefore, the longest possible follow-up is presented here. Seventy-one patients were treated with 84 Charité TDRs types I–III. Indication for TDR was moderate to severe DDD. Fifty-three patients (63 TDRs) were available for long-term follow-up of 17 years. Evaluation included Oswestry disability index, visual analog scale, overall outcome score, plain and extension/flexion radiographs. Implantation of Charité TDR resulted in a 60% rate of spontaneous ankylosis after 17 years. No significant difference between the three types of prostheses was found concerning clinical outcome. Reoperation was necessary in 11% of patients. Although no adjacent segment degeneration was observed in the functional implants (17%), these patients were significantly less satisfied than those with spontaneous ankylosis. TDR, nowadays, is an approved procedure. Proof that long-term results of TDR implantation in DDD are at least as good as fusion results is still missing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Schumannstraße 20/21, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Michael Putzier, Julia F. Funk, Sascha V. Schneider, Christian Gross, Stephan W. Tohtz, Cyrus Khodadadyan-Klostermann, Carsten Perka & Frank Kandziora

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  1. Michael Putzier
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  2. Julia F. Funk
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Correspondence to Michael Putzier.

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Putzier, M., Funk, J.F., Schneider, S.V. et al. Charité total disc replacement—clinical and radiographical results after an average follow-up of 17 years. Eur Spine J 15, 183–195 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-1022-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-1022-3

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