Spinal discs are soft tissue structures that cushion the space between each individual vertebra in your spine. Discs have a strong, fibrous outer ring called the annulus, and a softer interior layer known as the nucleus.
When discs become severely damaged, they sometimes need to be surgically removed. Artificial disc replacement is a procedure in which a prosthetic device is used to replace a natural disc.
Artificial discs are made of durable materials; a total disc replacement involves a complete prosthetic disc.
We perform disc replacement to address several disc-related conditions that cause pain. Some of these include:
Disc replacement is performed when nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy have not helped and it can be an alternative to fusion surgery.
If you have pain in your neck and you’ve tried nonsurgical treatments without success, you may qualify for disc replacement surgery.
To determine whether disc replacement is right for you we perform a comprehensive evaluation which includes a physical exam, a review of your health history, and diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays or an MRI.
We use minimally invasive techniques to perform disc replacement as a same-day procedure.
A small incision is made and slender surgical instruments are used with the operating microscope to remove the damaged disc and replace it with the prosthetic device. We close your incision with dissolving sutures.
We give you detailed instructions about at-home care and activity restrictions. Most patients can resume most activities within two weeks of their surgery.