Princeton Brain, Spine and Sports Medicine

Artificial disc replacement, or disc arthroplasty, is an innovative surgical procedure to restore stability in the spinal column when cushioning discs between vertebrae have been damaged or deteriorated. Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine’s experienced neurosurgeons are fellowship-trained to perform this state-of-the-art procedure at leading affiliated hospitals in PA and NJ.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL DISC REPLACEMENT?
For years, the traditional treatment for herniated, damaged or degenerated spinal discs has been a procedure called spinal fusion, where two or more vertebrae are joined together to stabilize the spine and alleviate pain in the neck and back. This fusion of vertebrae results in a loss of spinal flexibility. With artificial disc replacement, the damaged disc is restored with an FDA-approved replacement disc consisting of two metal plates or two metal plates separated by plastic padding. The metal plates glide over one another and the plastic disc, restoring the natural function of the spine and preserving the patient’s ability to bend forward, backward and side-to-side.

This procedure is a relatively new option for patients with disc damage who have not responded well to standard non-operative treatments like rest, injections, physical therapy and bracing.

Physicians report excellent pain relief and stabilization results for patients who are younger adults and meet these guidelines, including:

• Damage in a single cervical disc & no adjacent discs
• No evidence of osteoporosis, bone spurs, infection or significant arthritis
• Normal spinal flexibility at the fusion level

With the patient under general anesthesia and lying face-up, the physician makes a small incision to expose the spinal column. X-ray imaging and an operating microscope aid the surgeon in confirming the location of the affected vertebrae, removing the disc and inserting the artificial replacement. A final x-ray image confirms correct placement of the artificial disc before the physician sutures the incision. This minimally invasive surgery usually requires one to two hours for completion.

After the procedure, the patient may be discharged the same or following day. In most cases, pain abates within days and other nerve symptoms improve rapidly.