For the first time in the history of spine surgery, an abundance of motion-preserving options compels US surgeons to consider alternatives to fusion.
A quick history FDA approvals in artificial discs.
Lumbar:
Charite - Approved on October 26, 2004, for one level at L4-S1.
ProDisc-L - First approval on August 14, 2006, for one level at L3-S1, and a subsequent approval on April 10, 2020, for one or two levels at L3-S1.
activL - Approved on June 11, 2015, for one level at L4-S1.
Cervical:
Prestige - Approved on July 16, 2007, for one level at C3-C7, with a variant, Prestige LP, receiving approval on July 24, 2014, for one level at C3-C7, and on July 7, 2016, for one or two levels at C3-C7.
Prodisc TM-C - Approved on December 17, 2007, for one level at C3-C7.
Bryan - Approved on May 12, 2009, for one level at C3-C7.
Nuvasive PCM - Approved on October 26, 2012, for one level at C3-C7.
Mobi-C - Approved on August 7, 2013, for one level at C3-C7, and on August 23, 2013, for two levels at C3-C7.
M6-C - Approved on February 6, 2019, for one level at C3-C7.
Simplify - Approved twice, first on April 1, 2020, for one level at C3-C7, and then on September 18, 2020, for one or two levels...
