From clinical trial milestones to the latest research, here are eight updates to know about artificial disc replacement in 2022.
1. A lawsuit has been filed against Aetna Life Insurance, arguing the insurer improperly limits coverage for lumbar artificial disc replacement by treating the procedures as experimental and investigational.
2. France-based Spine Innovations reached a milestone with its lumbar disc replacement device, and it's setting its sights on the U.S. market.
3. The global artificial disc market is expected to jump to $6.3 billion by 2027, according to Market Data Forecast.
4. Texas Back Institute in Plano reached its 3,000th lumbar artificial disc replacement in January.
5. Cervical artificial disc replacements were less likely to result in degenerative complications compared to spinal fusions, according to a study published in the February 2022 edition of the International Journal of Spine Surgery.
6. AxioMed is progressing toward FDA approval for its viscoelastic for lumbar and cervical disc replacement.
7. A third-party payer established positive coverage for one- and two-level lumbar disc replacement with Centinel Spine's Prodisc L.
8. A study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine supports the effectiveness of NuVasive's Simplify cervical artificial disc at two levels compared to spinal fusion.