Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns County expands advanced spine surgery capabilities with first lumbar disc replacement

Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County has expanded its advanced spine surgery capabilities with the completion of the first lumbar total disc replacement procedure in St. Johns County using the prodisc L Total Disc Replacement system.

The procedure provides patients experiencing lower back pain with another surgical option designed to treat damaged lumbar discs while preserving motion in the spine.

"Bringing advanced surgical technology like this to St. Johns County is an important part of how we continue expanding the level of specialty care available to our growing community," said Sean McAfee, President and CEO, Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County. "For patients, this means having access to innovative procedures and technology closer to home, while receiving the personalized care they expect from Ascension St. Vincent's."

Lumbar total disc replacement may be considered for certain patients with degenerative disc disease who continue to experience persistent lower back pain despite non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, medications, activity modification, or injections.

Unlike spinal fusion, which stabilizes the affected area by joining two vertebrae and eliminating movement at the treated level, lumbar disc replacement removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial disc designed to maintain motion.

The prodisc L system uses a ball-and-socket design with a fixed center of rotation to support motion at the treated spinal segment. The implant also includes a central keel for immediate fixation and titanium plasma-sprayed surfaces designed to support bony on-growth. Multiple implant sizes and configurations allow the technology to accommodate variations in patient anatomy.

Lumbar disc replacement can offer potential benefits, including preserving motion, maintaining more natural spinal movement and biomechanics, reducing additional biomechanical stress on neighboring spinal segments, and eliminating the need for a bone graft and the healing period required for vertebrae to fuse.

The milestone is part of Ascension St. Vincent's continued investment in expanding advanced specialty care and surgical capabilities in St. Johns County. By adding procedures that previously may have required patients to travel outside the county, the hospital helps residents access care within their own community.

To learn more about spine care at Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County, visit our website.