title: Relationship of surgical accuracy and clinical outcomes in Charitè lumbar disc replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively assess the clinical and functional outcomes of a group of patients receiving Charitè lumbar disc replacement and to compare those outcomes to the corresponding surgical technical accuracy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of all patients treated over a 3-year period was undertaken. Objective pain scores were quantified from 1 to 10. Short Form 36-Health Survey (SF-36v2) scores were compared to Australian population norms. Surgical placements were radiographically classified. Heterotopic ossification, disc height restoration and angle-defined instability were assessed using established protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients were identified with three patients lost to follow-up. Average follow-up was 34 months. Ideal surgical placement was achieved in five (33%) single-level and three (37.5%) dual-level disc replacements. Sub-optimal surgical placement was seen in nine (60%) single-level and five (62.5%) dual-level disc replacements. Poor surgical placement was observed in a single-level disc replacement. All patients demonstrated a reduction in objective pain score (P < 0.05). SF-36v2 outcomes were superior in single-level compared to dual-level and ideal compared to sub-optimal replacements (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis that ideal surgical placements are associated with improved clinical and functional outcomes in total lumbar disc replacement was confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smitham
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059145:Total Disc Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome