Related Information
Goals for Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement are to relieve nerve compression
and to maintain motion at the repaired spinal level. Implanting an artificial disc such as
the Prestige LP cervical disc in the neck is serious surgery. The Prestige LP cervical disc is
inserted very close to important nerves and blood vessels.
A single-level cervical ADR surgery commonly involves the following steps:
- The patient lies face up on a table. General anesthesia is applied so the patient goes
to sleep (becomes unconscious) and does not feel pain or discomfort during
the procedure.
- A 1- to 2-inch incision is made in the front of the neck.
- The affected disc is removed, as are any disc fragments or osteophytes (bone spurs)
that are pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord.
- The disc space is restored to its normal disc height to help relieve pressure on
the surrounding nerves.
- Using live x-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) for visual guidance, the artificial disc device is
placed in the prepared disc space. More than one artificial disc size may be tried
before the surgeon decides on the best fit. The specifics of how the artificial disc is
implanted can vary depending on the type of disc.
- After the artificial disc is placed and attached to the 2 adjacent vertebrae (above and
below), the incision is sewn up.
Risk Factors
- Multilevel surgery(The risk for complications, such as hardware failure or
adjacent segment disease, is higher when 2 discs are replaced at the same time.)
- Smoking
- Severe spinal degeneration
Indications
- Confirmed cervical disc disease (with myelography)
- Radicular pain and/or neurological deficits caused by a problematic disc.
- Nonsurgical treatments have been tried
- Surgery would be well tolerated
Contraindications
- Advanced spinal degeneration
- Weakened bones
- Prior cervical spine surgery
- Allergy to artificial disc material
Complications
- Difficulty with speaking and/or swallowing
- Heterotopic ossification
- Artificial disc migration
- Pain not relieved
- Adverse reactioon to metal
- Paralysis
Sex
Female
Age
37
Chief Complaint
Lt arm pain, numbness
Diagnosis
Herniated Cervical Disc (HCD)
D5-6 Lt Ruptured