At OLSS, our team of world-class doctors specializes in different surgical treatments that help our patients get back on the road to recovery. We utilize the latest cutting-edge medical techniques and procedures, which have led to thousands of satisfied patients throughout Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. For patients considering Cervical Disc Arthroplasty, we invite you to read more below.
What is Cervical Disc Arthroplasty?
Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is a type of joint replacement procedure involving inserting an artificial disc into the space between your vertebrae after removing the natural hard disc.
An artificial cervical disc is a prosthetic device designed to maintain motion in the treated vertebral segment. An artificial cervical disc functions like a joint, allowing for flexion, extension, side bending and rotation. Duplicating the natural disc’s form and function with an artificial disc is challenging. However, several artificial cervical discs have been developed. They are available as a surgical option to treat cervical disc problems that cause chronic neck pain and other symptoms, such as arm pain or weakness.
Why Do I Need Cervical Disc Arthroplasty?
To determine whether or not a CDA procedure is correct for you may help to understand how your cervical spine works. The cervical spine discs, which are situated between the vertebrae, 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 damages
- 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.
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, our cervical disc arthroplasties enjoy a success rate of over 95 percent. The reasons for this are multiple, including our world-class facilities, top-rated doctors, and utilization of the latest medical technology and surgical techniques. Rest assured that you are in competent hands should our team recommend this procedure.
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, can outweigh the present risks.
Drawbacks Â
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 team of doctors and specialists 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 procedure, we will offer complete service treatment to get you ready for the procedure and aftercare.
Choose 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 & Spine Laser Surgery for all your pre and post-operative needs. Our experienced, skilled team of surgeons can help you navigate this sometimes complex procedure quickly and confidently. To schedule a free consultation, contact our office at (855)-853-6542 or fill out our contact form.