Treatment of juxtafusional degeneration with artificial disc replacement (ADR): preliminary results of an ongoing prospective study.

Eleven patients with juxtafusional degeneration syndrome underwent artificial disc replacement (ADR). Of these, five patients followed up for >6 months were analyzed for the current report. Surgery for juxtafusional degeneration was performed mean 4.9 years from their initial operation. The presenting features were neurologic compromise in four and severe back pain in one, with a mean Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score of 64%. The replaced levels were L1-L2 in one, L3-L4 in three, L4-L5 in one, and L5-S1 in one. L1-L2 replacement was performed through a left flank approach. At 6 months, all patients had complete resolution of neurologic symptoms, and ODI decreased to 24%. ADR shows promising early results in juxtafusional degeneration in well-selected patients.