(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 16 - A possible solution to a widespread problem, that of back pain, in particular chronic low back pain, may come from an intervention called arthroplasty in some specific cases.
As in the case of hip or knee prostheses, an intervertebral disc that is no longer functional is replaced with a mobile biomechanical device, a disc prosthesis.
The device serves to restore movement of the spine, replacing the degenerated disc.
"The method - explains Dr. Raffaelino Roperto, neurosurgeon, for several years in charge of Vertebral Surgery at the S.
Filippo Neri of Rome - foresees a skin incision of a few centimeters along the middle axillary line, under radioscopic control and continuous neurophysiological monitoring.
Transmuscularly, the vertebral plane is reached, where the degenerated disc is replaced with a prosthesis ".
" It is a procedure - he adds - required mainly by young and active patients who suffer from chronic low back pain and who have not had results from the so-called treatment conservative ". Not everyone can take advantage of this intervention: the age must be between 18 and 50 years, patients must have a symptomatic degenerative pathology of the lumbar spine, in the absence of signs of arthrosis. And the MRI must have verified a reduction in height by the intervertebral disc. There are also some specific vertebrae that must be affected (L1-L2; L2-L3; L3-L4; L4-L5). "In the case of young and sporty patients - he concludes - it is obtains, through the intervention, significant and lasting relief from low back pain and sports activity can be resumed within the first 3-6 months ". (ANSA).
