Spinal Surgery

First Patient Receives Artificial Disc in Unique Research Study

“Among spine surgeons, there is a lot of hope that we can do less destruction and more reconstruction when treating painful disorders in the neck.” – Dr. Christopher Chaput (pictured right, with Dr. Mark Rahm )

Jerry Roberts was eager to get back home to San Saba and back to work, but Dr. Christopher Chaput had insisted his patient stay the night to allow for a reasonable period of observation.

It was May 9, and the day before Roberts had become the first participant in a study at Scott & White to receive an investigational artificial cervical disc replacement. With only a little soreness in his neck from the surgery Roberts headed home the next day.

An investigational device for spine surgery
Scott & White spinal surgeons Dr. Christopher D. Chaput and Dr. Mark Rahm are conducting the surgeries using the PCM® cervical disc replacement. Dr. Chaput has worked closely with the medical team at Cervitech, developers of the PCM® system. Scott & White was selected as one of a group of hospitals for a clinical study to assess this investigational device for spine surgery.

This study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an artificial spinal disc for the treatment of shoulder and arm pain, along with the weakness caused by chronic cervical (neck) disc degeneration. It is an FDA regulated clinical study to assess the safety and efficacy of the device.

The primary treatment of advanced cervical disc degeneration has been surgery to remove the affected discs and fuse the vertebrae. It is estimated that nearly 400,000 people in the U.S. undergo fusion procedures each year.

Applying motion preservation principles
“Among spine surgeons, there is a lot of hope that we can do less destruction and more reconstruction when treating painful disorders in the neck,” said Dr. Chaput. “We are at a point where we are trying to apply the same principles of motion preservation to the cervical spine that are currently used in hip and knee replacement.”

Alternative to spinal fusion
The intent of the PCM® disc replacement system is to provide spine surgeons with a possible alternative to the current standard of spinal fusions. Spinal fusion is a highly successful operation and usually relieves pain and other symptoms, but does result in loss of motion in the fused joint. For that reason, devices such as the PCM® have been developed to potentially provide the relief of pain and symptoms, with the possibility of retaining motion at the treated joint.

Same material used in joint replacement surgeries
The PCM® system is constructed of two endplates, made of a cobalt chromium alloy, surrounding a special grade plastic core that together could potentially help to restore/maintain motion in the affected vertebral segments after removal of the diseased disc and bone. These are the same materials that are used in artificial hip and knee replacements. While the possibility of preserving motion at the treated level has yet to be proven, the concept offers appeal to surgeons and is therefore being studied.

Roberts, who experienced his injury from a car accident on I-35 several years ago, said he was interested in participating in the study to see if it might let him retain some motion and give pain relief. He said that as the years went by after the accident, the pain and discomfort increased. Roberts' own research of published information led him to become aware of the PCM® system.

“It just makes more sense to me,” said Roberts. “The only way I was going to get back to doing anything, or lift anything, was to get this thing fixed.”

A comprehensive two-year study
Study participants will have follow up visits for at least two years and will be compared in their outcomes with regards to improvement in pain, function, return to work and other criteria.

For Roberts, a retiree living on a small farm, he is happy to participate in the study. As he was preparing to leave the hospital he said he knew what he was going to do now.

“I’m just going to be doing the stuff I need to do. Landscaping, working in my mechanic’s shop, and play-farming.”

Patient Resources:
More Information About the Cervical Disc Replacement Study

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