Of all the surgical treatments available at Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery, cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is among the most beneficial for patients. This is especially true for our patients suffering from cervical disc issues and chronic neck pain. No matter your condition, you should settle for no less than the best if you need to undergo a cervical disc arthroplasty.
At Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery, we have a combination of the best staff and resources to help patients with chronic spinal conditions. Our focus is on reducing pain and restoring function so that you can get back to the life that you love. Fortunately, our skills for procedures such as cervical disc arthroplasty let us help people just like you make a fast recovery. If you are suffering from chronic back pain, here is what you need to know about cervical disc arthroplasty.
What is Cervical Disc Arthroplasty?
Cervical disc arthroplasty is a type of joint replacement procedure. This procedure removes a hard disc in your spine and replaces it with an artificial one for better performance. Unlike the natural disc, which is likely damaged or hardened too much to maintain flexibility, the artificial disc allows for better cushioning between the vertebrae.
It also improves your mobility by letting the spine flex freely without increasing tension and keeping your vertebrae aligned as you move. The result is better bone and muscle support across your spine, which reduces pain from movement and improves your overall quality of life.
What is the Success Rate of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty?
In terms of success, cervical disc arthroplasty is generally very safe and has among the highest success rates of any of our procedures. While every surgery is unique, cervical disc arthroplasties enjoy a success rate of over 80%. The reasons for this are multiple, including our world-class facilities, top-rated doctors, and utilization of the latest medical technology and surgical techniques. Be assured that you are in competent hands should our team recommend this procedure.
When is Cervical Disc Arthroplasty the Right Treatment Option?
Cervical disc arthroplasty is the right treatment option for patients that suffer from chronic neck and back pain caused by damaged, aged, or dysfunctional cervical discs.
Your spine is made of vertebrae and discs, and the discs form a cushion between each vertebra in your spine. If you have a damaged disc, then you likely have one or several symptoms that include:
- Persistent neck pain
- Persistent back pain
- Loss of flexibility in your back
Determining whether or not a CDA surgery is correct for you may help to understand how your cervical spine works. The cervical spine discs are essential for your neck’s normal mobility and function. When healthy, they act as “cushions” for the vertebrae. Each disc is made up of two parts:
- Soft, gel-like center of the disc (nucleus pulposus)
- Strong, fibrous outer ring that surrounds and supports the nucleus pulposus (annulus fibrosus)
Over time, discs can become damaged due to age, genetics, and everyday wear and tear. When this happens, the nucleus pulposus may push through the annulus fibrosus. Disc degeneration also may result in bone spurs, which can create a prominence of arm symptoms (radiating, burning, tingling, and numbness), as well as isolated neck pain, where the hinges or facet joints in their neck are healthy. Some conditions that benefit from a cervical disc arthroplasty are:
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Disc Herniations
- Radiculopathy
- Failed Prior Surgery (Failed Fusion)
- Multi-level Damage
- Prior Fusion on Adjacent Levels
To determine whether CDA surgery is the proper treatment for you, our team will first get a complete medical history from you and then perform a battery of tests, including a complete physical exam and imaging tests. Depending on these results, we can then determine if CDA is right for you.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty
Like any surgical procedure, cervical disc arthroplasty has specific benefits and risks.
Benefits
Benefits of cervical disc arthroplasty include:
- Repairs and maintains normal neck movement
- Reduces the risk of stress on adjacent discs
- Does not require a bone graft
- Enables early neck motion after surgery
- Improves function of discs after surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery, which offers a faster recovery
Overall, the benefits of CDA surgery, especially in cases where the discs are heavily damaged, often outweigh the present risks.
Drawbacks
Potential drawbacks of cervical disc arthroplasty usually include:
- Allergic reaction to the implanted disc
- Breakage or movement of the implanted disc
- Infections of the wound or inside the body near the implant site
- Arm and neck pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in speech patterns
- Nerve damage or spinal cord injuries
- Numbness or tingling in extremities
- Tears in the spinal cord’s protective membrane
- Loss of motion
- Potential ineffectiveness of procedure
Our experienced cervical disc arthroplasty surgeons will discuss the potential risks, complications, and benefits of cervical disc arthroplasty surgery with you before receiving treatment. If it is determined that you are a good candidate for the CDA surgery, we will offer complete service treatment to get you ready for the procedure and aftercare.
Contact Our Highly Rated Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Surgeons
When facing a decision as significant and full-encompassing as cervical disc arthroplasty surgery, you want to make sure you choose the best doctors and specialists you can. Look no further than Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery for all your pre and post-operative needs. Our experienced, skilled team of CDA surgeons can help you navigate this sometimes complex procedure quickly and confidently.
Reach out to us by calling (855) 853-6542 or by filling out our contact form to discuss your options for better sleep and spine health.