10/15/2025
What is Artificial Disc Replacement?
Also called Total Disc Replacement (TDR), ADR replaces a degenerated spinal disc with a prosthetic that mimics motion, instead of fusing two vertebrae rigidly. 
🥅 The goal: relieve pain, restore function, and preserve as much “natural motion” as possible at that spinal segment. 
✅ Key Benefits of ADR
1️⃣ Preservation of motion / flexibility
Because the artificial disc allows controlled movement, adjacent levels don’t get overloaded as much. 
2️⃣ Lower risk of adjacent segment degeneration
With fusion, the segments above and below must absorb more stress, which can accelerate wear. ADR may reduce that risk. 
3️⃣ Faster recovery / less tissue disruption
Because you’re not fusing bone segments, tissue trauma is less, and recovery times tend to be quicker in many patients. 
4️⃣ Durability / long-term success. Some reports suggest ADR implants can last 70+ years in ideal conditions. Also, in lumbar disc arthroplasty, clinical success rates ~76.9% and patient satisfaction ~87.2% at 10 years have been reported. 
5️⃣ High satisfaction & safety profile
Many patients report excellent results — studies note satisfaction rates over 90% in some cohorts. 
Overall, ADR is considered a safe option in skilled hands, with lower complication rates relative to more invasive fusion procedures. 
👉 Notice how the surgical tech does not touch the disc surface with gloved hands at any point. That’s deliberate. Why? Because the more you touch an implant, the more you risk introducing bacteria, micro-contaminants, or damaging the sterile surface. By using instruments and sterile holders, the team minimizes infection risk and preserves the integrity of the prosthesis. That’s how small procedural details add big safety margins.
