Back pain, limited flexibility and stiffness are just a few of the symptoms that come with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). Seen as a part of the natural process of growing older, this disease starts when intervetebral discs, the gel-like cushions within the spine, lose their elasticity and shock absorbing characteristics. If patients do not respond to conservative treatment, surgery may be used to relieve pain by inserting rods, screws and cages and fusing them to or alongside the spine.

A clinical trial for an artificial lumbar disc investigational device is currently underway at the sites including Sierra Medical Center. The MAVERICK Artificial Disc could potentially offer another option to patients who suffer from degenerative disc disease.

"The purpose of the trial will be to compare the outcomes of patients who receive an artificial disc with those of patients who have a lumbar fusion," says Dr. David Masel, neuro surgeon and site leader for the El Paso clinical site.

Patients enrolled in the clinical trial will be randomly assigned a treatment group. The trial will be used to help support an application to the U.S Food and drug Administration that could allow the approved future use of the device.

Individuals interested in participating in the trial must:

• Be between the ages of 18-70 years
• Not pregnant, nursing or planning to become pregnant within a year following surgery
• Have not responded to non-operative treatment for a period of six months
• Diagnosed with degenerative disc disease

For more information on the trial or to be considered a candidate, please call 1-866-7425.