TUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- A study to determine whether a new artificial spinal disc can offer safe, long-term relief for people with degenerative disc disease is being conducted by Northwestern Memorial Hospital Surgeons.
The study will examine whether the MAVERICK artificial disc, made from cobalt-chrome alloy, has the durability to safely provide increased range of motion and less strain on adjacent discs than spinal fusion.
The MAVERICK is one of three artificial discs currently being tested in the United States. It's different from the other two discs in that it contains only metal components, rather than plastics or polymers.
Some previous studies have found plastics and polymers may eventually wear down and produce debris. Tissue reaction to such debris is a major factor in limiting the longevity of joint replacements.
"Artificial joints in knees and hips have been around for decades, but progress in material engineering and refinement of surgical techniques finally mean we can attempt disc replacement in as critical a location as the spinal cord," principal investigator and spine surgeon Dr. Srdjan Mirkovic says in a prepared statement.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about the spinal disc.
