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[First experience and preliminary clinical results with the cervical disc replacement DISCOVER]
R Greiner-Perth1, Y Allam, J Silbermann
1Gemeinschaftspraxis Orthopädie und Neurochirurgie, Hof. greiner-perth@t-online.de
Zeitschrift Fur Orthopadie Und Unfallchirurgie
|November 26, 2009
Summary
This pilot study introduces the Discover cervical disc replacement, showing significant improvements in pain and function. While complications are comparable to other devices, longer follow-up is needed for definitive assessment.
Area of Science:
- Spine Surgery
- Biomaterials and Medical Devices
- Orthopedic Research
Background:
- The Discover device is a novel cervical disc replacement system introduced in the EU in 2007.
- Clinical data on the Discover device's efficacy and safety were previously unavailable.
- This study provides the first clinical evaluation of the Discover device.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the preliminary clinical and intraoperative outcomes of the Discover cervical disc replacement.
- To compare the performance of the Discover device with existing cervical disc prostheses.
- To evaluate patient-reported outcomes and radiological changes following implantation.
Main Methods:
- A prospective pilot study involving 70 patients undergoing cervical disc surgery.
- Clinical assessments included Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, alongside neurological examinations.
- Radiological evaluation of segmental angles and intraoperative parameters (surgical time, blood loss) were recorded.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in NDI and VAS scores for neck and arm pain were observed postoperatively.
- Average surgical time was 54 minutes per prosthesis with minimal blood loss (80 mL).
- Complication rates (8.6%) included device translations and heterotopic ossifications, comparable to other prostheses.
Conclusions:
- The Discover device demonstrates encouraging preliminary clinical and intraoperative results.
- It shows advantages in surgical duration, segmental angle correction, and heterotopic ossification rates compared to some alternatives.
- Further long-term follow-up is necessary for a comprehensive evaluation of the Discover device's performance.
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