According to a new medical study recently published in Spine, single level total disc replacement (TDR) procedures can be safely completed in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) with satisfactory clinical and patient-reported outcomes, when compared to single level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures and previous 2 year TDR studies. This is exciting news for the next-generation viscoelastic AxioMed cervical disc replacement device, as awareness of same-day spine surgery procedures is on the rise due to better outcomes and shorter recovery times.

Two groups were evaluated for the study. Group 1 (TDR) was 55 patients. 60% were male, with the group’s mean age being 42.6+/- 1.4 years and a BMI (mean body mass index) of 24.8+/-1.2 kg/m. Group 2 was the ACDF control group. It also had 55 patients. 57% were male, with the group’s mean age being 53+/-1.0 years and BMI of 27.9+/-0.8 kg/m. There was no statistically significant intergroup difference in two year VAS neck, arm and NDI scores. Dysphagia was the most common postoperative compliant in both groups (6 patients), with no intergroup significance, p = 0.4.

The study evaluated outcomes of total disc replacement (TDR) as an outpatient procedure in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) by assessing VAS neck, arm, NDI scores, and complication rate. It was determined that TDR has shown statistically significant intragroup improvement in VAS neck, arm pain scores and NDI scores (p < 0.001). In this study, no patients reported serious complications and there was no incidence of hematoma formation or worsening of pain post-op.

This conclusion is important for AxioMed, patients, and surgeons alike. Total disc replacement provides a much needed solution for a subset of patients simliar to those in the study. Bringing TDR technology to outpatient operating rooms is the next logical step for better spine surgery outcomes.