Spine Surgeon Becomes First In Western Pennsylvania To Reintroduce Lumbar Artificial Disc

PITTSBURGH, PA, December 5, 2018 // — Dr. Jocelyn Idema, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at The Center for Disc Replacement Surgery at Advanced Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation (AOR), recently implanted Centinel Spine’s newest generation of the prodisc L lumbar artificial disc replacement.  The prodisc L® is a Total Disc Replacement (TDR) technology platform that offers a surgical alternative to spinal fusions. Patients usually suffer from a single level degenerated disc in the lower (lumbar) spine and this technology works to relieve pain while allowing the potential for motion at the diseased spinal segment. 

As lower spine treatments continue to make advancements through innovative technologies and motion preserving techniques, patients are seeking out alternatives to lumbar fusions.  The goal at The Center for Disc Replacement Surgery at AOR is to improve the motion and function of the spine while maintaining the highest quality and highest standards of care related to both surgical and non-surgical spine interventions through evidence based medicine practices.  “By using newer motion preserving techniques, spinal discs can help retain the forward-to-back, bending side-to-side, and turning left-to-right spinal motion you were intended to have.” says Dr. Idema.  “This in turn helps to reduce the wear and tear associated with your spine above and below the damaged area.”  “I can’t begin to describe how this newest generation of lumbar artificial discs will continue to be a game-changer for patients.” reports Dr. Idema after the procedure.  She further  continues  “I have been doing cervical (neck) artificial disc replacement for years with really high success rates but the lumbar artificial discs only recently are making a resurgence because of various limitations including insurance companies authorizing the procedures.”

Centinel Spine is currently the only company in the United States to offer both upper and lower spine Total Disc Replacement devices.  The prodisc I implant, the predecessor of the prodisc L implant, was first implanted in 1990. The prodisc L implant that is used today was introduced outside the United States in 1999. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States in August 2006.   A prodisc L IDE clinical study evaluated the prodisc L Total Disc Replacement surgery compared to spinal fusion surgery*. The study demonstrated that prodisc L surgery is a safe and effective alternative to fusion surgery* for qualified patients.

About Centinal Spine
From the foundation of knowledge gained from the long-term clinical success of its lumbar products, Centinel launched its cervical product in 2008. Today, Centinel Spine still embraces the pioneering culture from 1924.  In 2006, the FDA Approved the prodisc L—the 2nd U.S. Lumbar Total Disc Replacement device and in 2007, the  FDA approved the  prodisc C—the 1st Complete U.S. Cervical and Lumbar offering.

For more information, please visit www.centinelspine.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.