Artificial disc replacement surgery consists of removing a painful disc and replacing it with a artificial disc prothesis that has similar biomechanical properties to a normal disc. Most artificial disc protheses are made of metal and/or plastic. In general, the artificial disc replacment surgery is performed through a minimally invasive approach to the spine and patients recovery very quickly. However, it is important to note that artificial disc replacement surgery is still a major spinal reconstructive surgery and that results from FDA studies have been shown to be similar to fusion.