The cervical spine is located in the neck region and consists of seven bones arranged one on top of the other. Cushioning tissue called inter-vertebral discs located between the vertebrae act as shock absorbers, allowing easy movement of the neck. Wear and tear and advancing age can damage these discs, leading to pain and disability.
Artificial cervical disc replacement is considered an option for some patients with neck problems involving one or two cervical discs.
Artificial cervical disc replacement surgery is a procedure where the damaged inter-vertebral disc is removed and replaced with an artificial implant whose action is similar to the disc. The surgery relieves neck pain as well as restores the normal range of motion of the neck.
Procedure
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and is guided with the help of X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy). The cervical spine is approached with a 3 cm skin crease incision in front of the neck. The damaged disc along with any loose disc fragments or bony spurs are identified and removed. The artificial disc device is sized and placed in the prepared disc space, restoring its normal height and relieving any pressure over the spinal nerves.
The advantages of artificial cervical disc replacement include: