Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: March 5, 2026
Whether you’re considering having a spinal disc or your knee joint replaced, one of the first questions patients typically ask is if the implant will last the rest of their life. As you can imagine, we can’t always say yes or always say no because each patient is unique and has their own set of goals and challenges for the remainder of their life. Everyone hopes that procedure is the last they’ll need for that issue, but what can you expect if you need a revision performed down the road? In today’s blog, we talk about the revision procedure for an artificial disc and compare it to revision surgery for other replacement procedures, like for a new hip or knee.
Will My Artificial Disc Need To Be Replaced?
We can’t say that you will never need another procedure on your artificial disc, but we can say this – the vast majority of patients who undergo disc replacement surgery do not need to undergo another procedure to fix or replace the artificial disc later in life. Improvements in technology mean that we can expect these artificial components to last 20-30 years or more, and the latest studies only confirm the longevity of the Mobi-C artificial disc, which is the hardware we often rely on for cervical disc replacement. Artificial knees and hips are lasting longer too, but given the stress patterns on these areas, it’s expected that an artificial disc would be less likely to need a revision procedure than a knee or a hip.
Another reason why it’s less likely that you’ll undergo a revision procedure for an artificial cervical spinal disc than for a large joint like the hip or the knee is because of the design of the implant. While all implants are designed to be stable and not shift out of place, installation of the artificial disc is done in such a way that revising the site is incredibly difficult. This hardware usually has ridge or teeth-like components that, once secure in place, are next to impossible to remove or adjust. This is why getting the positioning right the first time is essential. You need to know that the implant isn’t going to shift, which is great for a patient’s long-term health, but it also complicates the revision process. The same can’t be said for knee or hip replacement.
In the event another procedure is warranted, a corpectomy is the standard option. With a corpectomy, a piece of the vertebrae is removed in order to completely excise the attached artificial disc. The surgeon would then need to install a new artificial disc while also accounting for the additional space that has been created by the removal of the vertebral component. It’s complex, time consuming, challenging and doable, but it’s not something a surgeon or patient hopes becomes necessary following an initial disc replacement procedure.
One factor that does increase a person’s likelihood of needing to have an artificial disc revised or replaced compared to an artificial knee or hip is patient age. In many instances, patients undergoing joint replacement surgery are in their 50s, 60s or above. Any artificial implant may be expected to outlive the patient by this point, and if an issue does develop, by that point the risk of surgery may not outweigh the benefits of moderately improved joint discomfort. Conversely, artificial disc replacement may become more of a necessity for younger adults who suffer traumatic back or neck injuries. Artificial disc replacement is still primarily performed on older patient groups, but disc replacement is more common than joint replacement for younger adults who suffer certain types of injuries. If you have a disc replaced when you are 35, it’s certainly possible that a revisional procedure may be necessary beyond retirement age.
At the end of the day, it’s very unlikely that you’ll need to have your artificial disc or joint revised or replaced at any point in life. These durable implants are designed to last the rest of your life, and if you stick to your rehab plan and put your faith in an experienced surgeon, there’s a good chance you won’t need a revision procedure.
Dr. Stefano Sinicropi – Minnesota Spine Surgeon
For more information about spinal disc replacement or a revision procedure, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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