USA Health Performs Mobile-First Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement

USA Health has successfully performed Mobile’s first lumbar artificial disc replacement surgery, offering a motion-preserving alternative to traditional spinal fusion for patients with chronic lower-back disc conditions. The procedure was completed by USA Health’s complex spine team, led by Dr. Richard Menger, chief of complex spine surgery and vice chair of neurosurgery, in collaboration with the health system’s cardiovascular team, highlighting a multidisciplinary approach to advanced spine care. Unlike spinal fusion, which uses rigid spacers, rods and screws to permanently join vertebrae, lumbar disc replacement involves implanting an artificial disc with a ball-and-socket design to maintain motion and flexibility in the spine. The procedure is intended for patients with degenerative disc disease in the lower back who may benefit from avoiding fusion. The surgery was made possible through close collaboration among multiple specialists, including cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Carl Maltese and Physician Assistant Christy Paragone. USA Health is among a limited number of hospitals in Alabama offering lumbar artificial disc replacement, expanding access to advanced spine procedures in the region.