ARTIFICIAL SPINAL DISC GENERATES CONTROVERSY

Darla Russell and Leah Coppersmith had chronic lower back problems when their doctors suggested an artificial spinal disc implant to reduce their pain and restore their mobility. Now, Russell, 41, of Wichita Falls, Texas, rides horses and gives her daughter piggyback rides. But Coppersmith, 35, of Leonardtown, Md., remains bedridden for days at a time under a variety of medications, unable to work or take care of her children. Their cases help illustrate the controversy around the safety and effectiveness of the Charité disc, produced by DePuy Spine Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson.
USA Today