Tampa, FL (Feb. 24, 2010) — Tampa General Hospital announced today the first implantation of the XL TDR® lumbar disc replacement device in Florida, using a minimally-invasive lateral (side) approach to the spine. This procedure is part of a prospective, controlled, multi-center clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of XL TDR by comparing the outcomes of patients to traditional spinal fusion surgery.

Juan Uribe, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery at USF Health, treated the first patient, a 43-year old female, at Tampa General on Feb. 22.

USF neurosurgeon Dr. Juan Uribe

The lateral approach may minimize or avoid the risk of potential complications such as vascular injury, major bleeding, intestinal injury, ureteral injury, sexual dysfunction, and postoperative back muscle pain.

“The minimally invasive extreme lateral total disc replacement is a great alternative for the management of select patients with degenerative disc disease,” Dr. Uribe said. “The procedure is performed through the patient’s side.  This approach provides the least amount of tissue disruption to muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, and abdominal organs, compared to traditional posterior (back) or anterior (front) approaches.” 

The clinical trial to evaluate XL TDR will include over 200 patients across an estimated 15 clinical investigation sites. The trial is expected to last 12 to 18 months.

About XL TDR

XL TDR is a metallic prosthetic joint or total disc replacement that replaces a degenerative intervertebral disc. Like fusion, total disc replacement supplants the primary function of the disc – to maintain vertebral spacing to protect the nerves and spinal cord. Unlike fusion, though, total disc replacement seeks to maintain the secondary functions of the disc – providing motion of the spine. Once implanted between the vertebrae, XL TDR is designed to restore height and to replicate the motion characteristics of an intact healthy disc.