Cervical Disc Replacement (Arthroplasty)
What it is and why we do it
Cervical disc replacement relieves pressure on a nerve or the spinal cord the same way an ACDF does — through the front of the neck, removing the worn disc and anything pressing on the nerves — but instead of fusing the level, I place an artificial disc that preserves motion. I offer it to the right candidates: people with a pinched nerve or cord pressure from a disc, who have good bone quality, reasonable alignment, and not too much arthritis at that level.
What happens during surgery
The approach is the same gentle front-of-neck route used for ACDF, working between the natural structures without cutting muscle. After removing the disc and decompressing the nerves or cord, I implant a mobile device designed to move with your neck rather than locking the level in place.
Your recovery
Recovery is similar to ACDF and often a bit quicker, because there is no fusion that needs to knit. A short period of sore throat or mild swallowing difficulty can occur. Many people return to light activity within days, with strenuous activity added back over the following weeks.
Activity and restrictions
Restrictions tend to be fewer than after a fusion, but I will give you specific guidance. Early on, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity, and follow the plan we set for returning to your usual routine.
The science — for the curious
The appeal of disc replacement is motion preservation: by keeping the level mobile, it may reduce the extra load a fusion places on neighboring levels over time. It is not for everyone — it depends on your bone, alignment, and how much arthritis is present — which is why candidacy matters. When the criteria fit, it is the motion-sparing option I favor; when they do not, a well-done ACDF is the more dependable choice.
Learn more
OrthoInfo — Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Surgical Treatment Options: orthoinfo.aaos.org
OrthoInfo — Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck): orthoinfo.aaos.org
This handout is general education about this procedure and does not replace the specific plan, risks, and consent discussion we have together. Your own situation may differ — if anything here does not match what we talked about, what we talked about wins, so please ask me.