NASS 2026 Session Preview

Symposium: Cervical and Lumbar Total Disc Replacement: Appropriate Indications for Safety and Good Outcomes

Date: Wednesday, October 14 at 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Room: Stars at Night Ballroom B2/B3

Moderators: Donna Ohnmeiss, PhD, Richard Guyer, MD

Description

Total disc replacement (TDR) continues to evolve as indications expand beyond early FDA trial criteria, making patient selection increasingly important for safe and effective outcomes. This symposium will review current indications and contraindications for both cervical and lumbar TDR, with emphasis on avoiding complications such as subsidence, migration, and endplate-related issues. Through case-based discussion, faculty will highlight key anatomical and clinical factors—including facet degeneration, prior surgery, and bone quality—that influence candidacy. Attendees will learn strategies for identifying appropriate TDR candidates in everyday practice.

Upon completion of this session, participants should gain strategies to:

• Assess expanded indications for total disc replacement beyond the FDA trials;
• Describe contra-indications for disc replacement important for patient safety; and
• Evaluate patients to determine if they are appropriate candidates for disc replacement.

Agenda

1:00-1:02 PM: Welcome

Richard D. Guyer, MD

1:02-1:10 PM: Indications / Contra-indications for Cervical TDR

Pierce D. Nunley, MD

1:10-1:18 PM: Indications / Contra-indications for Lumbar TDR

Faculty to be determined

1:18-1:34 PM: Panel Discussion of Would You Do Cervical TDR in This Patient?

Pierce D. Nunley, MD; Rick Sasso, MD; Robert Johnson, DO

1:34-1:50 PM: Panel Discussion of Would You Do Lumbar TDR in This Patient?

Pierce D. Nunley, MD; Rick Sasso, MD; Robert Johnson, DO

1:50-2:00 PM: Discussion

Faculty Panel

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

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