Synopses & Reviews
The development of new biocompatible implant materials as well as the advances in operative techniques in spinal surgery raise the question as to the prosthetic replacement of degenerated, herniated or injured intervertebral discs. Although "disc-surgery" accounts for the vast majority of all surgical procedures of the spine, the idea of an artificial disc has not yet found a final and satisfying solution. The purpose of the book is to give a survey of the state of the art concerning the concept, design, experimental investigations and, in some cases, clinical application of different kinds of disc prostheses. Only few scientific groups are dealing with this problem. Protagonists and representatives of all these groups have made contributions to this book, presenting their individual views, experimental approaches and clinical experience with different kinds of artificial discs.
Synopsis
Had we ever guessed the historical importance of this day, had we expected the impressive and touching episode of German history that took place on November 9, 1989, had we dared to hope that a dream three decades old would come true on precisely that day, we would have held our symposium in the immediate vicinity of the Branden- burg Gate While it is difficult to describe the atmosphere on that evening, when the news suddenly spread that "the wall had opened," it is almost impossible to describe the feeling of fraternity and sense of belonging that overcame everyone, a feeling that had been repressed (but never suppressed) for three decades Berlin M. BROCK H. M. MAYER K. WEIGEL Contents Introductory Remarks M. BROCK, H. M. MAYER and K. WEIGEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . Functional Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine R. LOUIS (With 4 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . Implant Materials H. STALLFORTH, W. WINKLER-GNIEWEK and M. UNGETHUM (With 4 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 . . . . . . . . . . . Performance of Alloplastic Materials and Design of an Artificial Disc H. J. SCHMITZ, B. KADEN, R. T. FRITZ, U. GROSS and G. FUHRMANN (With 9 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 . . . . . . Intradiscal Implants in 1989: Concepts and Possibilities J . A. N. SHEPPERD (With 4 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 . . . . . . . Intradiscal Polymerization: Preliminary Results of Chemical and Biomechanical Studies A. GARCIA, B. LAVIGNOLLE, P. MORLIER, D. DUCASSOU and C. BAQUEY (With 2 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 . . . . . . . Intervertebral Implants for Fixation and Disc Replacement J. A. N. SHEPPERD (With 6 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Lumbar Interbody Threaded Prostheses C. D. RAY (With 5 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Synopsis
An artificial disc - the answer for suffering patients and their concerned doctors? Top experts report on their experimental and practical experiences with differing models of this new possibility in spinal surgery.