Jacksonville residents with severe low back pain will be the beneficiaries of the first new technology in orthopaedic surgery in the last 20 years.

Surgeons with Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute recently began performing surgeries to replace damaged or worn out spinal discs with the Charite Artificial Disc.

This could revolutionize spinal surgery, just as joint replacements changed orthopaedics nearly 40 years ago. Discs keep the spine in position and allow for spine to bend and twist. When the discs begin to fail or are injured, patients can experience excruciating and chronic pain, a reduced range of motion and a major downgrade of their quality of life. The Charite Artificial Disc helps realign the spine and preserve its ability to move.

Spinal fusion surgery, performed on more than 200,000 patients a year in the United States, is a treatment for reducing pain associated with lower back pain or degenerative disc disease. The fusion of two spinal vertebrae limits the range of motion and may place additional stress on the spinal discs above and below the fusion.

Patients whose only surgical option would decrease their range of motion and potentially keep them from working for six months now have the option of maintaining their flexibility and getting back to life much faster. We are extremely pleased the residents of Northeast Florida have a choice when considering spinal surgery for a disc ailment.

The Food and Drug Administration has placed very strict limitations on the use of the Charite. This procedure is not for everyone who has lower back pain, our initial criteria will be very strict in using the Charite. Conservative treatment is usually the first course of action for a disc condition, including rest, physical therapy and the use of mild pain medications.

More than 65 million Americans suffer from lower back pain every year, spending more than $50 billion each year to treat it. Low back pain is also the leading cause of job-related disability and lost workdays.