Spinal disease rising among older adults… ‘artificial disc replacement’ draws attention

Spine surgery is in such demand that it ranks among the top three most frequently performed operations in Korean statistics. The number of patients is also rising steadily. The arrival of a super-aged society and the increase in elderly patients with spinal disease are cited as the causes. According to Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data, the number of patients aged 70 and over who visited hospitals for spinal stenosis and lumbar disc herniation in 2024 rose 48% compared with 2015. Among those aged 80 and over, care increased by as much as 2.3 times. Yoon, Kangjun, neurosurgery specialist and President of St. Peter's Hospital, said on the 12th, “Very elderly patients who in the past would have endured the pain and let it pass are now shifting toward engaging actively with treatment.” Among those aged 40 and under, the pattern of onset of spinal disease is changing. President Yoon explained, “In the past there were many acute disc patients, but recently their numbers have fallen sharply, while the proportion of spinal stenosis patients has stayed almost the same.” This means the pace of spinal degeneration is gradually accelerating. It is presumed to be influenced by situations in which younger and middle-aged adults hold postures that are bad for the cervical spine and back for long periods, as smartphone use and the like increase.

Treatment of spinal conditions varies with the patient's condition, but non-surgical methods such as medication and physiotherapy are tried first, and surgical treatment is recommended when there is no improvement or the pain persists. In particular, when a disc is too badly damaged, ‘artificial disc replacement’ — removing the existing disc and inserting an ergonomically and precisely engineered disc in its place — may also be considered. Because an artificial disc provides the same spinal flexibility and cushioning between the vertebrae as the original disc, there is no sensation of a foreign body after surgery and movement remains supple. The lifespan of an artificial disc is reported to average more than 70 years. That is the strength of the operation: patients can keep their back safe and healthy for the rest of their lives. Director Yoon said, "Because it restores everyday spinal function and improves pain, demand is rising steadily not only among older people but also among young and middle-aged adults who need to look after their spine." St. Peter's Hospital was an early adopter of artificial disc replacement in Korea, introducing it in the early 2000s. It has since performed more than 5,000 artificial disc replacements.

According to figures officially released by the hospital from 10 years of long-term follow-up of 109 artificial disc replacement patients, the clinical success rate was 83.5%. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), which assess spinal pain and function, showed significant long-term improvement. Subjective patient satisfaction was also rated highly, averaging 89%. Compared with fusion surgery, which binds the vertebrae together, the risk of side effects such as degeneration and stenosis around the operated segments was found to be lower. Dr. Yoon advised, “Artificial disc replacement is often misunderstood as a last resort chosen out of necessity in old age, but in reality that is not the case,” adding, “Artificial disc surgery plays an effective role in reliably improving quality of life. Rather than being excessively fearful, it is important to approach treatment with an expectation of returning to everyday life.”