It depends on where you go for your disc replacement surgery.
When FDA clinical trials were originally conducted, lumbar artificial disc replacement studies enrolled patients ages 18 to 60, while cervical studies included patients up to age 65. Those age ranges reflected clinical trial design, not necessarily the limits of who may benefit from motion-preserving surgery.
In Germany we can go to 70 for lumbar and cervical.
Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Ritter-Lang believes candidacy should be determined by the individual patients biological age rather than age alone.
He has successfully performed artificial disc replacement in patients over 70.
The most important considerations are overall spinal health, the condition of the facet joints, bone quality, and whether the patient’s anatomy is appropriate for a motion-preserving procedure.
As people remain healthier and more active later in life, carefully selected older adults are increasingly benefiting from artificial disc replacement and returning to the activities they enjoy.
According to top spine surgeon Dr. Karsten Ritter-Lang, If you are suffering from chronic back or neck pain caused by damaged spinal discs it is likely that minimally invasive procedures like discectomy, laminectomy or decompression, or waiting will only delay the need for surgery, yet spinal fusion is rarely the only option.
These delays can interfere with and eliminate you as a candidate for Disc Replacement Surgery in the future and leave you with spinal fusion as your only option.
Often patients are not offered surgery due to outdated beliefs that surgery should be avoided as long as possible.
New treatments called disc replacement surgery actually should be considered sooner rather than later.
You may have a spinal disc problem, such as a torn or damaged disc.
Torn spinal discs can progress into degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated discs, sciatica, or numbness in the legs and feet.
Where can I get more information about disc replacement surgery?
For Dedicated Patient Portals & Remote MRI Reviews go to betterdiscreplacement.com
Where can I get more information about the top disc replacement surgeon Dr. Ritter-Lang?
Because a significant portion of Dr. Ritter-Lang’s patient base travels internationally for total disc replacement (TDR), his team maintains dedicated international educational and consultation portals:
Better Disc Replacement: betterdiscreplacement.com
Features: Detailed background on multi-level cervical and lumbar disc replacement techniques, patient case studies, and comprehensive guides comparing motion preservation against fusion.
Professional Background & Credentials
Clinical Focus: Over 30 years specializing in intervertebral disc prosthetics, complex multi-level reconstructions, and anterior/abdominal approaches to the spine.
Surgical Experience: Has completed thousands of motion-preserving spine procedures utilizing advanced implants such as M6-C, M6-L, ProDisc, and Mobi-C.
Early Foundations: Trained under Prof. Kurt Schellnack and Dr. Karin Büttner-Janz at Charité University Hospital in Berlin—the research team credited with developing the original Charité artificial disc.
People go to Germany for back surgery primarily to access advanced motion-preserving procedures, artificial disc replacements, and dynamic stabilization systems that may be newer, less restrictive, or harder to find in North America.
Where can I learn about the best alternatives to spinal fusion and disc replacement surgery?
The surgeons at
BetterDiscReplacement.com have the experience and the skills required for complex multi-level lumbar and cervical disc replacement surgeries and other advanced spine solutions.
“Advanced disc replacement implants have allowed us to achieve a success rate of 99%”