Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery
The cervical spine is made up of 7 bones, called cervical vertebrae, stacked on top of each other forming the neck area. The cervical disks are the cushions that lie between the cervical vertebrae. They act as shock absorbers to allow the neck to move freely. The cervical spine forms a protective tunnel for the upper part of the spinal cord to pass through. This part of the spinal cord contains spinal nerves that supply the upper body with sensation and movement.
When the space between the vertebrae becomes too narrow, part of the vertebrae or cervical disk can press on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, causing pain, numbness, or weakness. When these symptoms do not respond to nonsurgical types of treatment, disk surgery may be recommended.
Indications
Cervical disc replacement is typically recommended for patients experiencing:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Nerve pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms
- Symptoms that have not improved with conservative treatments for at least six weeks
- Loss of space between the cervical vertebrae from cervical disk degeneration or wear and tear causing pain, numbness and or weakness
- Aging Cervical disks can begin to collapse and bulge with age
Ideal candidates for cervical disc replacement generally have:
- Pain from one or two problematic cervical discs
- No significant facet joint disease or bony compression on spinal nerves
- No prior major neck surgery
- No conditions like osteoporosis or severe spinal deformities
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
- Pain that travels down into your shoulders or into your arms
- Weakness of your shoulders, arms, hands, or legs
- Numbness or "pins and needles" feeling in your arms
Procedure
Cervical disc replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing a damaged disc in the neck and replacing it with an artificial disc. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia through a small incision in the front of the neck. The damaged disc is removed, and the artificial disc is implanted to restore the disc space and maintain motion. Common materials used for artificial discs include cobalt, titanium and stainless steel. This surgery aims to relieve pain and maintain neck motion, often used when conservative treatments have failed. Post-surgery, patients may experience some discomfort and will need to follow a rehabilitation plan. Cervical disc replacement is gaining popularity due to its ability to preserve neck motion.
Benefits
- Significant short-term and long-term pain relief for many people
- Can help maintain the range of motion in the neck
- Symptomatic relief and resume full activity after six months for many people
Not guaranteed to relieve symptoms.