Region’s First Artificial Disc Replacement Procedure Performed at Genesis

Davenport, IA – Cindy Webb of Blue Grass isn’t able to pinpoint the cause of severe back pain she suffered with daily for more than two years. But, she does know the exact day her back pain began to disappear.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Webb became the first patient in the Quad City region, and only the third person in Iowa, to have total disc arthroplasty. Orthopaedic surgeon Timothy Millea, M.D., replaced a damaged disc in Webb’s back with a Charite Artificial Disc at Genesis Medical Center, West Central Park campus, in Davenport.

While artificial replacements are commonly used in hip and knee replacement, the Charite Artificial Disc is the first artificial disc to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States. Charite Artificial Disc is a product of DePuy Spine, which is a Johnson & Johnson company.

Millea is affiliated with Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Associates, PC, Davenport. Dr. Christopher Cunningham, M.D., who assisted in the surgery, is affiliated with Vascular and Thoracic Associates, Ltd., Davenport.

Webb, who enjoyed long walks around the family’s rural home, was finding the walks increasingly more difficult because of her back pain. Working as an assistant for the Davenport Police Chief meant sitting for long stretches and was also part of Webb’s painful daily routine.  Webb explained, “The minute my feet hit the ground in the morning, it was awful. Every activity was getting to be painful. I had tried everything from physical therapy to acupuncture before I was referred to Dr. Millea.

“I used to like to make the walk of about a mile from our house to the road, but it was getting so hard. I’m able to do it again. It took me an hour to walk to the road and back, but I’m able to do it.’’

Webb believes she will soon be enjoying brisker walks and jogs again and hopes to return to work soon.

“I think my recovery is going perfectly. I think the surgery was a 100 percent success,’’ Webb said.

The Charite Artificial Disc is made of two metal endplates and a movable, high-density plastic center. In clinical trials comparing artificial disc replacement to lumbar fusion surgery, Charite Artificial Disc patients maintained or improved their range of motion while experiencing reductions in their levels of pain. There were no significant differences in complications discovered.

During the procedure, Dr. Cunningham approached the spine through an incision in Webb’s abdomen and carefully moved blood vessels and internal organs to provide access to the spine. Dr. Millea used special tools to remove the damaged disc. The removal of the damaged disc opened space between two vertebrae for the implantation of the artificial disc.

Dr. Millea, who trained in Cincinnati for two days to perform the surgery, said the procedure went well. “It went even better than we had hoped,’’ he said. “We had scheduled three hours for it and it took 90 minutes.

“I saw Cindy two weeks after the surgery and she’s doing quite well. Her mobility is already much better than I would expect from a fusion patient at two weeks post-op.’’

Dr. Millea said the ideal patient for disc arthroplasty will typically be from 25 to 50 years old with a single level of disc degeneration causing pain.

“Patients should have symptoms lasting more than six months and have failed other non-operative treatments. There are many conditions that would make patients not good candidates for total disc arthroplasty,’’ Dr. Millea added. “The decision for surgery is both tough and easy to make for patients.

“If you have failed other treatments and there is a reasonable chance of success, then surgery is reasonable. If the risks are acceptable and the quality of life is poor enough, the surgery is reasonable.

“When your entire day revolves around back pain, the decision to have surgery is appropriate.’’

Webb said she had tried several courses of treatment to alleviate the pain in her back before being referred to Dr. Millea. “Nothing had worked. Disc replacement is a new procedure in this country, but I had a lot of faith in Dr. Millea,’’ Webb said.

Approximately 65 million Americans suffer from lower back pain every year, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Americans spend approximately $50 billion each year on the relief of low back pain. More than 12 million people are reported to have degenerative disc disease.

Lumbar fusion is performed on more than 200,000 each year but fusion has limitations. DePuy Spine believes 15 to 20 percent of the 200,000 people who are considered for lumbar fusion will also be candidates for disc arthroplasty.

Dr. Timothy Millea is a graduate of the University of South Alabama Medical Center. His residency was at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill.

Orthopaedic & Rheumatology Associates is one of the largest practices of its kind between Chicago and Denver. The group has nearly 100,000 patient visits each year in seven offices accessible to a 150-square mile service area.

Read more facts about backs.