Cervical Disc Replacement (Arthroplasty)

Cervical disc arthroplasty is a motion-preserving procedure that removes damaged herniated disc and places a mobile disc in it’s place.

For some, this is an alternative to having the targeted disc level removed and fused with vertebrae above and below.

After anesthesia is given, a ~2.5 inch incision is made on the front of the neck. The windpipe and esophagus is moved over the side, the injured disc is removed, and the nerves and spinal cord are carefully relieved of the damaging pressure.
The implant is placed, with confirmation on intraoperative X-ray, in the middle between the vertebral bones. The wound is checked for bleeding and the incision is sutured closed.
1. Relieve nerve compression
2. Maintain motion in the cervical spine
A fusion (ACDF) is an effective and safe procedure that has been the gold standard. More recently, the disc replacement was introduced to maintain motion in the neck and decrease the stress that goes through the neighboring levels.
For certain problems including severe arthritis, a disc replacement cannot be performed and fusion is preferred.
For those that meet disc replacement criteria, recovery is quicker (return to sport/work), motion is preserved at the diseased level, and rates of additional surgery are lower.
Most patients go home the same day as the procedure.
Soreness from the incision site can remain for a week or two, along with hoarseness and some difficulty swallowing.
Unlike a fusion, there is no waiting for bone graft to consolidate, which can take months.
Return to work times vary, some people are able to return to light work 1 week after surgery. For those with a very physically demanding job, return to work may not happen until 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Decrease neck pain by at least half and decrease arm symptoms by at least 70%.
There is no surgery without risks. They include but are not limited to: bad reaction to anesthesia, injury to vocal cords, injury to esophagus, difficulty swallowing, surgical site infection, prolonged pain, nerve injury, spinal cord injury, spinal fluid leak, and the need for additional surgery.