New Artificial Disc Replacement for Cervical Disc Degeneration Being Studied at Baylor Health Care System Hospitals

Contact: Ashley Howland, 214-820-7540
Email: ashlehow@baylorhealth.edu

(DALLAS, Nov. 14, 2006)-Patrick Harrison, like millions of other people in the United States, suffered from neck and back pain due to spinal disc degeneration for many years. At times, his weekend warrior lifestyle rendered him almost immobile. Working in the yard or playing sports usually took days to recover from and over-the-counter pain relievers only provided temporary relief. Like so many others who experience this kind of neck and back pain, his quality of life rapidly deteriorated.

"The pain was excruciating and as a result, my business, family and social life suffered. I had trouble sleeping at night or even playing with my children," said Harrison, 47 of Little Elm, Texas.

But thanks to a new artificial disc replacement being studied at hospitals throughout Baylor Health Care System, Harrison has been able to get his life back. This multi-centered FDA study is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the KineflexICT Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement for the treatment of cervical disc degeneration, a disorder of the discs located in the neck.

Discs are pads that act as "cushions" between each vertebrae in the spine to minimize the impact of movement on the spinal column. As a disc ages or degenerates, it becomes brittle and less flexible and therefore loses the ability to serve its purpose as a shock absorber for the spine. The disc can also bulge outward compressing nerve roots and causing arm pain. Disc degeneration disease can occur in the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (middle back), and lumbar spine (lower back).

"Currently, fusion surgery is the standard of care for someone who has degenerative disc disease of the neck," says Cameron Carmody, M.D., spine surgeon and lead investigator of the study on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano.

"Fusion involves removal of the disc replacing it with a bone graft and securing it with a plate and screws to remove all motion. While this method works well at relieving the pain, it makes the joint incapable of movement and may increase the risk of degeneration at other discs."

Dr. Carmody says that the goal of the KineflexICT artificial disc is to preserve motion while minimizing or eliminating the pain. According to Harrison, that's exactly what it's done for him.

"Pain Management treatments were my last option before fusion surgery and they were not successful, but fortunately, the KineflexICT disc replacement study opened at about the same time," explains Harrison. "When I woke up from surgery, I was immediately relieved and the pain was gone."

Harrison says that so far he has not experienced any side effects or pain and only a few days after surgery he was able walk and even return to work. About two weeks after the surgery, he was able to get back to his active lifestyle.

"So far, it appears that there is a faster recovery time for the KineflexICT replacement and that is something we are studying as well," adds Dr. Carmody.

The KineflexICT clinical trial is currently open for enrollment. Eligible participants must be 18 to 60 years-old, be diagnosed with single level symptomatic cervical disc disease, and have had no prior cervical fusion surgery. For more information about being considered for the study, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

Established in 1984, the Baylor Research Institute, located in Dallas, Texas, is a dedicated research center for finding prevention therapies and treatments for diseases and illnesses. Its mission is to develop innovative therapies to improve the care and well being of its community. Baylor Research Institute matches its research efforts with the strengths and expertise of the medical staffs at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and other Baylor medical centers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The institute is supported by philanthropy through the Baylor Health Care System Foundation and by grants from the National Institutes of Health and other national organizations. Baylor Health Care System also provides financial support.