Understanding

Total Cervical Disc Replacement

Total disc replacement represents an important leap forward in the care of the spine. Before hip and knee replacement surgery was available, arthritis and cartilaginous deterioration were treated with steroid injections and joint fusions. Similarly, degeneration, injury and spinal pain have been treated with fusion procedures. Today, we would never consider knee fusion as a primary treatment choice. In the same way that hip and knee replacement surgery has revolutionized the treatment of joint disorders, disc replacement surgery has allowed surgeons to restore pain-free motion to the spine. Now, because of the multiple joints of the spine, and the complexity of each joint-segment, not all patients and pathology are candidates for disc replacement surgery. Your surgeon will review your specific case, your symptoms, and your imaging studies in order to determine if disc replacement surgery is the right choice for you. Regardless of the final determination, total disc replacement should be considered as an option for every patient and should be a part of the conversation about the best possible treatment choices.