Yes, you wake up after a spinal fusion and later find yourself saying, “Wait… I could’ve had a disc replacement surgery”!
For the right patient with a pinched nerve, disc replacement surgery may allow us to decompress the nerve without a fusion and without rods, screws, nuts, or bolts.
Before you have a bigger surgery, make sure you know whether a smaller option exists.
Do I really need spinal fusion surgery?
If you’ve been told you need a spinal fusion for your leg and/or back pain, it’s reasonable to want to know whether that’s really your only option. And plenty of people put off seeing a surgeon at all because they picture the worst version of spine surgery, a big procedure with tons of fusion hardware in their back, and months and months of recovery.
Told You Need Spinal Fusion?
What If You’re Actually a Candidate for Motion-Preserving Disc Replacement?
Use this self-assessment checklist spine specialists use to determine true Artificial Disc Replacement eligibility.
Sometimes specific facet joint conditions truly require fusion, but most don’t.
Let us Decode Your MRI and Translate complex radiological terms into clear indications for cervical or lumbar disc replacement.
Single vs. Multi-Level Disc Replacement.
FDA guidelines differ from international motion-preservation protocols for multi-level disc issues.
Avoid Adjacent Segment Disease by preserving natural biomechanics at L4-S1 or C5-C7 protects the rest of your spine long-term.
Why do Many US Surgeons Default to spinal Fusion surgery?
Lack of experience, training biases, hospital hardware contracts, and insurance pre-authorization friction for ADR vs. fusion.
Stenum Hospital is an international specialized motion-preservation clinics in Germany.
Stenum Hospital is an award winning Multidisciplinary orthopedic hospital and offers access to dedicated post-operative physical therapy, comprehensive pain management, and clear recovery protocols for spine surgery including advanced Disc Replacement Surgery as well as hip, knee, and other large joint replacement surgery.
Stenum Hospital our commitment to quality, combined with the latest technology improvements and expertise, provides superior results in a world class patient destination. Stenum Hospital has been ranked as a “Best Hospital” by The F.A.Z. Institute 8 years in a row.
Our Multi-specialist surgical team includes one of the most experienced spine and disc replacement surgeons in the world.
Special Clinic for Orthopedics is an specialized orthopedic only hospital serving the local community as well as International patients.
Why an Orthopedic Only Hospital?
At Stenum Hospital – Special Clinic for Orthopedics our commitment to quality, combined with the latest technology improvements and expertise, provides superior results in a world class patient destination.
Disc replacement surgery provides a less invasive alternative to spinal fusion surgery and protects against adjacent level degeneration.
“Advanced disc replacement solutions have allowed us to achieve a success rate of 99%”
Dr. Karsten-Ritter-Lang Disc Replacement Surgeon
“After years of suffering, I avoided spinal fusion surgery, had Disc Replacement Surgery, went to Dr. Ritter-Lang and had a wonderful result.”
“Dr. Ritter-Lang gave me a solution that I was not being offered by my doctors in the US”
What is Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
ACDF removes a diseased cervical disc via an anterior neck corridor, inserting a graft and plate to achieve arthrodesis. Candidates have discogenic radiculopathy, myelopathy, or instability unresponsive to conservative care; active infection or isolated posterior cord compression are contraindications. Mechanically, ACDF restores stability and disc height but permanently eliminates segmental motion, shifting kinematic stress to adjacent levels.
What is Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Abdominal / Anterior Approach
ALIF accesses the lumbar spine retroperitoneally through the anterior abdomen, removing the disc to insert a structural interbody cage and restore lordosis. Candidates present with discogenic low back pain or low-grade spondylolisthesis; severe posterior canal stenosis or vascular calcification are contraindicated.
What is Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF / TLIF) – Posterior Approach
Posterior lumbar fusion accesses the spine dorsally to decompress neural elements and place interbody cages and pedicle screws.
What is Circumferential 360-Degree Fusion (Anterior-Posterior / AP Fusion)
Circumferential 360-degree fusion combines anterior interbody structural column support with posterior pedicle screw stabilization.