What Is Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery?
If you have degenerative disc disease, herniated discs or other cervical spine conditions, you may experience pain, numbness, weakness and stiffness. Cervical disc replacement surgery may help relieve these symptoms.
A cervical disc is a "cushion” that absorbs shock and protects and supports the nerves and cervical vertebrae in the neck. There are six cervical discs that sit in between these seven vertebrae. Cervical discs also help you rotate your head and neck easily.
Sometimes spinal diseases and conditions can cause one or more cervical discs to put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, leading to symptoms.
With cervical disc replacement surgery, surgeons remove your diseased cervical disc and replace it with an artificial disc.
This procedure is an alternative to cervical discectomy and fusion surgery, in which a spine surgeon removes your damaged disc and permanently joins together — or fuses — two or more of your vertebrae.
Benefits of Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery
Cervical disc replacement may offer the following advantages over spinal fusion:
- A shorter hospital stay — you can usually go home either the same day or within 24 hours of the surgery
- A shorter recovery period
- You won't need bone grafts or plates for stability
- The motion of your spine is preserved
- Less stress on surrounding vertebrae, which may protect them from wearing out
Is Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery Right for Me?
Your Rush spine surgeon may recommend disc replacement in the following cases:
- You are experiencing symptoms of a cervical spine condition, such as the following:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Arm pain, numbness or a "pins and needles" sensation
- Weakness in your shoulders, arms, hands or legs
- Pain that travels down into your shoulders or arms
- You have tried other types of treatment called “conservative therapy” (anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy) for at least four to six weeks and still have symptoms
- You have not had prior neck surgery
- You are in good overall health and can tolerate surgery
Cervical disc replacement is not right for everyone. After a thorough diagnostic exam, your surgeon will recommend the procedure that will work best for you.
Meet our cervical disc replacement providers
Second Opinions on Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery at Rush
If you’ve been diagnosed with a cervical spine condition or have a recommended treatment plan, a second opinion can help you explore your options or help you feel more confident in making decisions about your care.
Our specialists can evaluate you to see if cervical disc replacement is right for you. To get started, call Rush at (888) 352-7874 or learn more on our Getting a Second Opinion page.
Choosing Rush for Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery
- Experienced spine surgeons: When it comes to disc replacement surgery, the experience of your surgeon can make a difference in how well you do. Spine surgeons at Rush were among the first in Chicago to perform both lumbar and cervical disc replacement. And we currently see thousands of patients every year with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and other conditions. Our expertise informs every aspect of your care, including finding out whether surgery is right for you and which procedure will give you excellent results.
- Alternatives to spinal fusion: While effective at relieving pain and other symptoms, spinal fusion eliminates motion at the treated level. Rush spine surgeons are focused on offering motion-sparing alternatives to treat cervical spine conditions. They participate in clinical trials that explore devices and techniques that can bring new options to patients. Success rates for patients who have cervical disc replacement surgery are very high, with the vast majority seeing symptom relief for many years after the procedure.
- Nationally ranked programs: Rush University Medical Center's orthopedics and neurology and neurosurgery programs are ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report.
FAQs About Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery
Your specialist will help you determine if you’re a good candidate for cervical disc replacement surgery after a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. You may be a good candidate if you are experiencing symptoms of a spinal condition, other types of medication and therapy haven’t worked for you, you haven’t had any prior neck surgery and you are in good enough overall health to handle surgery and recovery.
The most common complications of cervical disc replacement surgery are hoarseness and difficulty swallowing, which usually resolve shortly after the procedure. Other complications are rare but can include bleeding, infection, nerve injury or voice changes.
Pain, numbness, weakness and stiffness in the neck, arms, shoulders, hands or legs can be signs of spinal issues that affect the cervical discs, as can difficulty moving the head or neck. But these can also be signs of other conditions. And if you have a spinal problem, your physician may prescribe medications or other therapies to address the issue before recommending surgery. The only way to know whether you need surgery for sure is to consult a spine care specialist.
Age does not significantly affect the outcome of cervical disc replacement surgery. The most important things that affect the outcome include the degree of degeneration of the spine, alignment, stability and bone quality. If these are poor in a patient, then a surgeon would not recommend disc replacement, regardless of age.
Patients can usually go home the same day or the next day following their procedure. They do not need a brace, and they are usually able to take care of themselves without assistance or further treatment. The cervical disc replacement surgeon will follow up as needed, usually about a year after surgery.
Cervical disc replacement surgery is very effective in relieving symptoms. It has a high success rate, and the vast majority of patients’ have symptom relief for many years.
The long-term outcomes of cervical disc replacement surgery are excellent and better than those of cervical fusion surgery in properly selected patients. The immediate results of both procedures are mostly the same. But at about 10 years after surgery, patients who receive cervical disc replacement are generally less likely to have needed a second surgery.
Yes, the surgery can be redone. But if there are problems with the cervical disc replacement surgery, the surgeon will usually recommend cervical fusion instead of another disc replacement.