The first couple weeks after returning home from cervical artificial disc replacement surgery are an important time in the recovery.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacement surgery involves replacing a painful disc with an artificial disc. Artificial disc surgery may be performed on the lower back (lumbar spine) or the neck (cervical spine). Artificial discs are designed with the goal of mimicking the form and function of the spine's natural disc.
After a few weeks, healing from cervical artificial disc replacement surgery is usually well underway. Here is what to expect for medication use, returning to activities, physical therapy, and long-term success.
While there are many similarities between a traditional ACDF (fusion surgery) and cervical artificial disc replacement, there are also some differing benefits and drawbacks for these 2 types of neck surgery.
Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery may be an alternative option to traditional fusion for some patients who want to maintain more natural motion in the neck.
The goal in cervical disc replacement is to remove the problematic disc as well as provide a normal range of motion to prevent the risk of adjacent level disease.
The stability of an artificial cervical disc may decrease over time. Certain fusion and stability enhancing techniques help improve the disc’s stability, providing long-term benefits.
Neither 2-level cervical artificial disc replacement nor 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion are ideal choices for every patient. Learn the pros and cons.
These are the key points to consider when deciding who makes a good candidate for cervical artificial disc replacement surgery.
Currently, artificial disc implants are designed to be placed into the disc space from the front and center position. To get there, the surgical approach is performed anteriorly (from the front).
When considering artificial disc replacement surgery, a patient should consider the possible risks and complications (i.e. retrograde ejaculation, bone collapse)
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