A historical review and current perspective on the intervertebral disc prosthesis.

Spinal fusion for degenerative disc disease has been associated with a variety of side effects, including increased morbidity, infection, failed back syndrome, pseudoarthrosis, and acceleration of degenerative changes in adjacent intervertebral discs and facet joints. Based on the experience of arthroplasty of hip and other joints, there has been an escalating in research emphasizing the design and development of an artificial disc prosthesis. However, these artificial discs have not been very successful when compared with hip or knee replacements.