Lumbar artificial disc replacement for treatment of patients with lumbar disc degenerative disease

Published on 01 May 2024
Last Updated on 01 May 2024

Guidance Recommendations

The Ministry of Health’s Medical Technology Advisory Committee has recommended lumbar artificial disc replacement (L-ADR) for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc degenerative disease (DDD) in line with the following criteria:

• Skeletally mature patients with symptomatic single level or two contiguous levels of lumbar DDD and low back pain (with or without neurologic deficit), confirmed by clinical examination and medical imaging, who:

  • require reconstruction of the lumbar spinal disc; and 
    

  • have failed to respond to conservative medical management.

Funding status

L-ADR is recommended for inclusion on the MOH Implant Subsidy List (ISL). Listed models are recommended for subsidy when used in line with the abovementioned recommendation. 

Lumbar artificial disc replacement for lumbar disc degenerative disease (Published 1 May 2024) [PDF, 131 KB]