01 — Overview
Fusing a segment transfers load to the levels next to it. A disc replacement removes the affected disc and restores height while preserving motion at that segment. Patient selection is specific: it generally requires preserved facet joints, acceptable alignment and adequate bone quality.
02 — Who it suits
- Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy at one or more levels
- Preserved facet joints and no significant deformity
- Selected lumbar cases with isolated disc disease
- Patients for whom preserving motion at the segment is a goal
03 — How it is done
The disc is removed through an anterior approach and the nerve or spinal cord decompressed. The endplates are prepared carefully, since implant position affects how the segment moves. The prosthesis is placed and its motion checked under imaging.
04 — Recovery
Because there is no fusion to protect, restrictions after a disc replacement differ from those after a fusion. Your own plan is discussed with you before surgery.
05 — Conditions treated
- Cervical Disc Disease Degeneration or herniation of discs in the neck, leading to pain, stiffness, and neurological symptoms due to nerve compression.
- Lumbar Disc Disease Degeneration or herniation of discs in the lower back, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs due to nerve compression.
- Degenerative Disc Disease A condition where the spinal discs wear down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential nerve compression.
- Herniated Disc A condition where the inner gel-like core of a spinal disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer, causing pain and neurological symptoms.
Timelines and techniques described here are general. Your own plan depends on your anatomy, your imaging and your medical history, and is decided with you at consultation.
