Artificial cervical disc

Artificial disc replacement is the replacement of a damaged spinal disc with an artificial (manufactured) disc, which functions like a natural disc. An artificial disc is designed to support the vertebrae while still allowing backward and forward bending, side-to-side bending, and turning.

The best candidates for disc replacement are younger individuals who have a single disc herniation and normal spinal motion at the level of the pathology. Occasionally more than one level of disc replacement is possible. Older patients who have significant arthritis, bone spurs and limited mobility are generally not good candidates for artificial disc replacement.

This procedure is similar to cervical discectomy expect for the fusion, where an artificial disc is placed in the place of the disc which is removed.

Advantages of this procedure over conventional cervical discectomy:

• Preservation of good range of motion in the neck
• Early postoperative neck motion
• Reduces adjacent segment degeneration
• No complications of bone graft