Results of Charité artificial lumbar disc replacement: experience in 43 Thais.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the results of artificial lumbar disc replacement in Thai patients with degenerative disc disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective study had been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of artificial lumbar disc replacement in patients from October 2004 to December 2007. Oswestry disability index (ODI) score and visual analogic scale (VAS) for pain had been used to assess the clinical result before and after surgery. RESULTS: Forty three patients diagnosed as degenerative lumbar disc disease underwent 50 artificial lumbar disc replacement. All patients markedly improved in both ODI and VAS. The mean ODI score decreased from 60.9% preoperative to only 9.8% postoperative. The VAS score also decreased from 7.44 to 1.3 at the final follow up period. No serious complication found from this procedure. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a good short term, a critical outcome of Charité artificial lumbar disc replacement in Thai patient with degenerative lumbar disc disease.