Advanced Disc Replacement

10/19/2026

Recovery after spinal fusion isn’t always a straight line.

As the spine heals and the body adapts to a newly stabilized segment, patients may experience unexpected changes—from temporary nerve irritation and muscle stiffness to digestive issues in the early postoperative period. There are also longer-term considerations, including adjacent segment disease, non-union, and, in some cases, hardware irritation.

Knowing what can be part of the recovery process—and recognizing when a symptom deserves medical attention—can help patients feel more informed and prepared throughout healing.

In our latest article, Dr. Todd Lanman breaks down six common challenges after spinal fusion, why they can occur, how they may be managed, and the warning signs that should prompt a call to your surgeon.

Read “6 Common Problems After Spinal Fusion & How to Manage Them”: https://www.spine.md/insights/common-problems-after-spinal-fusion

10/16/2026

Patients across Texas seeking motion-preserving spine care now have access to two members of the ADR Spine Top Doctors network, with specialists serving both Central Texas and the Dallas area.

In Central Texas, Dr. Carl Lauryssen sees patients at five Central Texas Brain and Spine locations in Austin, Round Rock, Hutto, Leander, and Fredericksburg. Certified by both the American and Canadian Boards of Neurological Surgery, he previously directed the advanced neurosurgical spine program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, led research and education at the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders, and served as team neurosurgeon for the NFL's St. Louis Rams. His clinical focus includes cervical and lumbar disc replacement, revision surgery for patients whose prior spinal procedures were unsuccessful, and sports-related spinal injuries.

In North Texas, Dr. John H. Peloza is now seeing patients in Dallas, expanding his practice beyond Chesterfield, Missouri. A board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Peloza has spent four decades advancing spine care, from minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery to artificial disc replacement and augmented reality intraoperative navigation. He also serves as a clinical investigator in the DiscGenics IDCT trial.

Both surgeons share a commitment to preserving spinal motion for appropriately selected patients. Schedule a consultation with the ADR Spine Top Doctor nearest you to learn whether motion-preserving spine surgery may be an option.

10/15/2026

What is heterotopic ossification—and what does it mean for patients after artificial disc replacement?

Heterotopic ossification (HO) refers to bone formation that can develop around an artificial disc following ADR surgery. It is graded from 1 through 4 based on its extent and the degree to which motion at the treated level is affected.

At Grade 4, bone formation results in complete fusion of the treated segment, eliminating the motion the artificial disc was intended to preserve. Importantly, the presence of HO does not necessarily mean a patient will experience pain or other symptoms.

As Dr. Todd Lanman explains, even at the most advanced stage, the result is essentially a fused spinal segment—the intended structural endpoint of a traditional spinal fusion.

In this video, Dr. Lanman explains heterotopic ossification after ADR, how it is classified, and what patients should understand about its potential impact on motion and clinical outcomes.

10/12/2026

Dr. John H. Peloza is expanding his practice, bringing his decades of experience in advanced spine care to patients in both Dallas, Texas, and the greater St. Louis, Missouri, area.

With locations in Dallas and Chesterfield, Missouri, patients now have greater access to Dr. Peloza’s specialized approach to spine care across a multi-location practice. A board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and member of the ADR Spine Top Doctors network, Dr. Peloza has spent four decades at the forefront of innovation in spine surgery.

His career has included pioneering work in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery, spinal motion preservation and artificial disc replacement, regenerative medicine, robotic surgery evaluation, and image-guided navigation. His work continues today with artificial intelligence in spinal imaging and augmented reality intraoperative navigation. He also serves as a clinical investigator in the DiscGenics IDCT trial, evaluating an investigational injectable disc cell therapy for degenerative disc disease.

Dr. Peloza’s expertise has been recognized nationally, including his inclusion among Becker’s 50 Best Spine Specialists in America. His research has been published extensively in peer-reviewed spine literature, and his work has been featured in national outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Now seeing patients in Dallas and Chesterfield/St. Louis, Dr. Peloza brings the perspective of a career defined by innovation, motion preservation, and advancing the possibilities of modern spine care to patients across both regions.

10/09/2026

Not every patient who is told they need a spinal fusion has explored every option.

Artificial disc replacement is designed to treat a damaged cervical disc while preserving motion at the treated level. For appropriately selected patients, it may offer an alternative to permanently fusing the vertebrae.

But determining candidacy can be nuanced. Anatomy, the condition of the facet joints, spinal alignment, instability, the number of levels involved, and other clinical factors all play a role—as does a surgeon’s experience evaluating and performing artificial disc replacement.

Dr. Todd Lanman frequently evaluates patients seeking another opinion after being told they are not candidates for ADR. In some cases, a more specialized evaluation reveals that motion preservation may still be an option.

If fusion has been recommended, seeking a second opinion from a surgeon with extensive experience in artificial disc replacement can help ensure you understand the full range of treatment options available to you.

Learn more about cervical artificial disc replacement: https://www.adrspine.com/treatments/cervical-disc-replacement

10/05/2026

10/02/2026

Chronic spine pain can gradually make life feel smaller. Trips become shorter, activities are reconsidered, and everyday decisions begin to revolve around what your spine will—or won’t—allow you to do.

For appropriately selected patients, motion-preserving spine surgery can help change that trajectory. Artificial disc replacement is designed to treat the affected spinal level while preserving motion, with the goal of helping patients return to the activities and experiences that are important to them—whether that means kayaking, traveling, exercising, or simply moving through the day with greater confidence.

Because the goal of spine surgery should extend beyond addressing pain. It should be about restoring the freedom to move forward.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Todd Lanman or an ADR Spine Top Doctor near you to learn whether motion-preserving spine surgery may be an option for you.

10/01/2026

Paducah, Kentucky is home to Dr. K. Brandon Strenge, a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon and member of the ADR Top Doctors network specializing in minimally invasive and motion-preserving spine surgery.

Dr. Strenge founded Strenge Spine Center to bring advanced cervical and lumbar artificial disc replacement to western Kentucky, an area historically underserved by specialized spine care.

He has served as principal investigator for clinical research trials involving artificial disc replacement technologies, minimally invasive fusion implants, and synthetic bone graft substitutes, and he consults with leading implant design teams on developing new surgical tools and techniques.

His active membership spans the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the North American Spine Society, the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, and the Southern Orthopaedic Association.

Patients throughout Paducah and the surrounding western Kentucky region have direct access to a nationally vetted artificial disc replacement specialist committed to preserving spinal motion and helping patients avoid fusion whenever clinically appropriate.

09/24/2026

Recovery from lumbar disc surgery unfolds in stages, from the earliest days of rest and gentle movement through the gradual return to physical therapy and higher-impact activity.

Yet the pace through these stages is rarely identical from patient to patient. Age, fitness level, and nutrition all influence how efficiently tissue heals, while smoking has been shown to reduce blood flow to spinal tissue and slow the process considerably.

Consistent adherence to post-surgical guidance, including lifting restrictions and physical therapy milestones, remains one of the strongest predictors of a smooth recovery.

We’ve created a full, phase-by-phase breakdown of the recovery timeline. Find it at the link in our bio.