Complications and strategies for revision surgery in total disc replacement.

Spinal arthroplasty is an acceptable alternative to fusion in many cases of disabling degenerative disc disease. Although arthroplasty has been demonstrated to be a safe and efficacious surgical option, complications related to the approach or the device may occur in few cases. Revision strategies for failed total disc arthroplasty can be planned as a posterior fusion, leaving the total disc replacement device in place, or by way of anterior removal with subsequent anterior fusion or revision replacement of the prosthesis.