A multicenter retrospective study of the clinical results of the LINK SB Charité intervertebral prosthesis. The initial European experience.
OBJECTIVE
This study is a multicenter, retrospective review of the initial clinical results of an artificial disc replacement, the LINK SB Charité intervertebral prosthesis.


METHODS
Independent analysis by chart review included patient demographics, surgical data, and a comparison of presurgical to follow-up data. Data were analyzed from 93 patients (average age = 43.0 +/- 7.3) in whom a total of 139 Model III prostheses (Waldemar Link GmbH & Co, Hamburg, Germany) were implanted.


RESULTS
The predominant diagnostic indication for the disc was degenerative disc disease (52.4%). The L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels comprised 87.1% of all levels implanted. The average follow-up was 11.5 +/- 8.4 months. After disc implantation, a significant proportion of the patient sample experienced pain relief (P < 0.05). Improvements were also noted in pain intensity, walking distance, lumbar mobility, and the percentage of patients showing a positive SLR or neurological weakness. No difference in work status after disc implantation could be detected. Device failure, migration, or dislocation occurred in 6 of 93 (6.5%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study represents the largest multicenter case series of any functional artificial disc implantation. Carefully controlled, prospective studies that compare disc implantation and fusion are warranted.
Texas Back Institute Research Foundation, Plano.
S L
SL
Griffith
A P
AP
Shelokov
K
K
Büttner-Janz
J P
JP
LeMaire
W S
WS
Zeegers
D000328:Adult; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011095:Polyethylenes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002858:Chromium Alloys; D011095:Polyethylenes