[Clinical and radiological follow-up of Nubac disc prosthesis. Preliminary report].
BACKGROUND
Lumbar arthroplasty is an alternative to fusion for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. Replacement of the nucleus pulposus preserves the biomechanical properties in the annulus and plates, conserving lumbar motion. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical and radiological findings at 3 months follow-up with the Nubac device.


METHODS
Ten patients from the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR, Mexico City) with degenerative disc disease were selected to participate in the study. They underwent discectomy with Nubac device with a follow-up period of 3 months. Evolution was evaluated with the VAS and Oswestry scales.


RESULTS
Five men and five women were included in the study (average age 41.6 years). Surgical approach was anterolateral (4 patients), posterior (3 patients) and anterior (3 patients), VAS improved from 8.1 to 2.5 (p <0.05) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) improved from 58.2% to 24.2% (p <0.05). Disc height before surgery was 9.4 mm, and 3 months postoperatively was 12.5 mm with no complications, migration, or subsidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Nubac prosthesis improved lumbar discogenic pain in a short time when evaluated using ODI and VAS scales. Disc height improved after a 3-month follow-up, but lumbar motion did not improve. No complications have been reported; however, a minimum follow-up of 4 years is needed to make a definite conclusion.
Alpízar-Aguirre
Armando
A
Servicio de Cirugía de Columna Vertebral, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Secretaría de Salud, México, D.F.
Mireles-Cano
José Nicolás
JN
Rosales-Olivares
Miguel
M
Miramontes-Martínez
Víctor
V
Reyes-Sánchez
Alejandro
A
D000328:Adult; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055815:Young Adult
D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate