Originally Posted by kerry edwards

Here's an account of a two level, along with x rays.

http://www.spinalneurosurgery.com/reversal_fusion.htm

When I looked at this pictures, I remembered something about the conversation I had with the ortho expert who had an artificial disc in Switzerland. He was not happy with the design you see in these two accounts. This design is anchored to the vertabrae surface above and below the disc. He chose a design in which a small flange protrudes from the disc onto the face of the vertabrae above and below. Screws are then attached thru flange and into the front of the vertabrae. He reasoned that it would be very difficult or impossible to remove the disc you see in these accounts, but that the design he chose could be unscrewed and removed without as much difficulty. (The one he chose may have been called a Bristol Disc??) There are at least a couple of patients at ADRSupport who had to have artificial discs removed once they were installed, so this is not a minor consideration.