This case concerns a 34-year-old patient who suffers from chronic, degenerative disc disease in the area between the lumbar spine and sacrum. In the course of the last year, she has had great problems in carrying out her job as a nurse. Pain medication and therapy do not provide any permanent improvement in back pain. The intervertebral disk has degenerated considerably, loss of intervertebral height has occurred, and the adjacent base and upper plates show sclerosis. This pattern of disease is known as osteochondrosis. The small swivel joints in the L5-S1 segment are overloaded and painfully altered. Advanced arthritis of the vertebral joints has fortunately not yet occurred. The patient would like to avoid surgery to stiffen her spine using a plate fixation method, and continue to work again in her profession as soon as possible without restrictions.

Fortunately, there are no signs of leg weakness. In this case, there are various solutions. The patient decides on an artificial disc. The intervertebral disk prosthesis maintains the mobility and restores the height of the intervertebral space. The original shape and mobility of the lumbar spine is kept almost unchanged by the operation and full load can be placed on the spine already a few days after the procedure.