Lumbar Fusion Procedure in St. Louis, MO

Lumbar Fusion — Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)

What the procedure is

Total lumbar disc replacement is a motion-preserving surgery that removes a worn or damaged disc in the lower back and replaces it with an artificial disc. The goal is to relieve pain from a painful disc while maintaining movement at that level—an alternative to fusion for carefully selected patients.

What it can help with

Lumbar TDR targets disc-related low-back pain that flares with bending, sitting, or lifting. By restoring disc height and unloading painful structures, many patients experience steadier relief and a more natural feel when moving, standing, and walking.

(Your evaluation rules out other pain sources such as significant facet arthritis or instability.)

What it treats

Symptomatic degenerative disc disease at one lumbar level
Disc collapse with persistent back pain despite conservative care
Select cases with nerve compression from disc pathology when decompression is performed with the replacement

Who needs this treatment

You may be a candidate if you have single-level discogenic back pain that hasn’t improved with activity modification, physical therapy, medications, laser therapy, or targeted injections—and your imaging and exam align with a painful disc as the primary source. TDR is not typically recommended when there is marked instability, severe facet arthritis, osteoporosis, deformity, or multi-level disease. We confirm candidacy during your St. Louis consultation.

The benefits

Preserves motion at the treated level (vs. eliminating movement with fusion)
Restores disc height and relieves nerve pressure when needed
Typically smaller incision and a predictable recovery plan
May reduce stress on adjacent levels compared with fusion
Stepwise return to work, driving, and activity with clear guidance

How we can help as a practice

At Orthopedic Spine Institute of St. Louis, we start with a conservative-first plan and recommend surgery only when it’s truly appropriate. If lumbar TDR fits your goals, we’ll walk you through the entire process—pre-op preparation, the day of surgery, early mobility, and milestones for desk work, driving, and exercise. We coordinate therapy when helpful, verify insurance coverage (not all plans cover TDR), and schedule timely follow-ups so you always know what’s next.