NASS Awards Total Disc Replacement Research at 20th Annual Meeting; Patrick O'Leary, MD receives annual Outstanding Paper Award (OPA)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 2005 - Patrick O’Leary, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Loyola University Medical Center, received the 2005 Outstanding Paper Award (OPA) at NASS’ 20th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia last week for his latest research involving Total Disc Replacement (TDR). Each year, NASS awards one or more research papers for their exceptional contribution to the industry.
Recently, TDR has been recommended as an alternative to spinal fusion to reduce pain while preserving spinal motion. The Charité Artificial Disc was designed to restore disc space height, motion and flexibility; prevent degeneration of adjacent discs; reduce or eliminate pain from motion or from nerve compression; and improve the patient's ability to function in daily activities. It is designed with two endplates and a core to mimic the motion of a normal, healthy spine and to allow anatomic alignment while bending.
The core of the Charité TDR is said to mimic that of a healthy disc under heavy loads. While segmental motion after Charité TDR has been measured, little is known about the effects of physiologic compressive preload on vertebral motion and the motion of the disc components after the replacement.
In the study, O’Leary and his colleagues tested five lumbar spines under flexion and extension to test the behavior of the disc’s motion while bearing weight. The study also looked at how the prosthesis components move in relation to each other under physiologic loads when implanted in the lumbar spine.
The motion between prosthesis end plates and core were viewed using sequential digital video-fluoroscopy over the full range of motion. The study concluded that the Charite TDR restored near normal flexion-extension range of motion under a constant load, however the quality of the motion differed from that of a normal spine.
The main motion within the disc components occurred between the upper end plate and the core. This is probably due to the original placement and orientation of the disc and the weight of the load. Further research is needed to understand the effects of the prosthesis motion patterns identified in this study on potential wear of the implant over time, as well as stress on the surrounding area of the spine.
For more information on research presented at NASS’ 20th Annual Meeting, or to schedule an interview with any of NASS’ 4,000 expert spokespersons please call (630) 230-3600.
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NASS is a multidisciplinary medical organization dedicated to fostering the highest quality, evidence-based, and ethical spine care by promoting education, research, and advocacy. Since its start in 1985, NASS has grown to nearly 4,000 members in 22 spine-related specialties. NASS members are MDs, DOs, and PhDs, including orthopedics, neurosurgery, physiatry, pain management, and other disciplines. Nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, chiropractors, physical therapists, practice administrators, and other allied health care professionals involved in spine care are also represented as affiliate members.
For further information, contact:
North American Spine Society
Toll-free: (866) 960-6277 Direct: (630) 230-3600
or
Kathleen Hansen
(630) 933-9477