08/08/2007

First FDA-approved artificial disc for the neck

New treatment for patients suffering from Degenerative Disc Disease: Medtronic's Prestige Cervical Disc is the first artificial disc system for the neck that received approval from the FDA.

Other companies are going to enrich the growing market for Spinal Implants with their own products. According to a Millenium Research Group (MRG) analysis the US market for Spinal Implants will reach a value of nearly $450 million in 2011. More than 200,000 cervical procedures were performed in 2006.

“Artificial discs were developed to treat chronic back pain,” says Kevin Flewwelling, Senior Analyst at MRG. While the implantation of a metal plate rigidly fuses the vertebrae together, artificial discs preserve physiological vertebral motion, proper spacing and stability. “The cervical artificial disc market holds much potential - surgeons are comfortable with the anterior cervical technique required for disc implantation.”
Medtronic currently runs two long-term studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Prestige Cervical Disc system.