Study design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives:

Total disc replacement (TDR) has been introduced in order to preserve segmental motion and thus reduce adjacent segment disease (ASD) as seen after spinal fusion. However, it is uncertain whether these presumed beneficial effects remain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term incidence of ASD and residual-mobility in relation to clinical outcome.

Methods:

A total of 210 patients treated with lumbar TDR for degenerative disc disease were invited for follow-up. ASD was reported in case of severe degeneration in an adjacent disc at latest follow-up, or if an increase in disc degeneration was observed in these adjacent segments as compared to direct postoperative radiographs. Residual-mobility of the TDR was defined as a minimal rotation of 4.6° on flexion-extension radiographs. Patient-reported outcome measures were obtained.

Results:

Fifty-seven patients (27.1%) were lost to follow-up. In 32 patients (15.3%) a revision by spinal fusion had been performed. In 20 patients this revision had occurred ≥5 years after TDR and were included. Consequently, 141 patients were available for analysis (mean follow-up of 16.7 years). Residual-mobility was noted in 38.0%. No significant associations were observed between residual-mobility and the occurrence of ASD, or with clinical outcome. In addition, ASD and clinical outcome were not related either.

Conclusions:

It appears that long-term preservation of motion after TDR is met for only a third of patients. However, residual-mobility is not associated with the occurrence of ASD, and both residual-mobility and ASD do not appear to be related to long-term clinical outcome.