CRMC-West 214 E. 23 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
CRMC-East 2600 E. 18 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Health & Fitness 1620 E. Pershing, Cheyenne, WY 82001

(307) 634-CARE

First Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery in Wyoming

CHEYENNE - Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and W. Carlton Reckling, MD, were partners in a revolutionary new back surgery to insert the first artificial disc replacement in Wyoming.

Recently approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the disc allows orthopedic surgeons options other than fusing the spine to relieve a patient's chronic pain from degenerative disc disease.
Spinal fusion joins vertebrae together using bone grafts so that motion no longer occurs between them. While most patients report relief from pain after spinal fusion surgery, the surgery often robs them of flexibility and range of motion.

Instead of fusion, Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Reckling, at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center removed a patient's damaged disc and replaced it with the new CHARITÉ Artificial Disc, a high-tech device made of two metallic endplates and a movable high-density plastic center.

The 39 year old patient was involved in an auto accident in the early months of 2003.

Prior to the accident the patient was physically very active, who ran, went to the gym daily and lifted weights. After the accident the patient experienced pain and muscle spasms, and went through physical therapy for several months with no relief from the pain.

Approximately 6 months later an MRI indicated a bulging disc. The options at that time were to "live with it," take pain medications, or have a spinal fusion. The patient did not wish to have a fusion due to the physical restrictions, including the lack of mobility which would be a result of the procedure.

The patient then consulted a pain physician who prescribed a treatment of injections. When the treatments did not work, the physician told the patient about a new disc replacement that was scheduled to be approved soon. He suggested the patient try to "get by" until the disc was approved.

In late 2004, the patient consulted Dr. Reckling and they decided to wait until the disc was released during which time the patient stayed on pain medications.

The patient was out of bed the day after the surgery and was able to return home in 3 days.

Typically, two surgeons work together in the operation. A general surgeon approaches the spine through an incision in the abdomen and moves blood vessels and internal organs out of the way to provide access to the spine. A spine surgeon then uses special tools to remove the damaged disc and creates a space between two vertebrae for the implantation of the artificial disc. The procedure generally takes one to two hours.

While artificial replacements are commonly used in hips and knees, this is the first FDA approval of such a device for spinal discs.

The CHARITÉ™ Artificial Disc recently approved by the FDA, makes it the first artificial disc on the U.S. market. In clinical trials comparing artificial disc replacement to spinal fusion surgery, CHARITÉ Artificial Disc patients maintained or improved their range of motion and experienced improvements in pain. There were no significant differences in complications.

Artificial disc replacement is not for everyone. As with any major surgery, there are possible complications that can occur including unresolved pain, allergic reactions, bladder problems and/or infection. Patients should ask their doctors to see if artificial disc replacement is appropriate for them.

Four out of five Americans will suffer from low back pain every year according to the North American Spine Society (NASS). This year at least 25 million will seek treatment for their pain. Americans spend about $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and lost workdays. More than 12 million people are reported to have degenerative disc disease.

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