Artificial disk replacement is a newer surgical procedure for relieving low back pain. Similar to hip or knee joint replacements, a disk replacement substitutes a mechanical device for an intervertebral disk in the spine. The device is meant to restore motion to the spine by replacing the worn, degenerated disk.


Total artificial disk replacements are mechanical devices that simulate spinal function.
CHARITÉ artificial disk. Reproduced with permission from DePuy Spine, Inc. © 2007 DePuy Spine, Inc. All rights reserved.
This technology has been available in Europe for over a decade. Artificial disk replacement initially gained FDA approval for use in the U.S. in 2004. Over the past several years, numerous other disk replacement designs have been developed and are currently being tested.