By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    email marketing in healthcare
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    healthcare claims
    The Role of Communication in Resolving Complex Workers’ Compensation Claims in Healthcare Settings
    September 22, 2024
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    February 12, 2025
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 5 Reasons Why Doctors Are Considering Artificial Disc Replacement Over Cervical Fusions
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > 5 Reasons Why Doctors Are Considering Artificial Disc Replacement Over Cervical Fusions
Medical InnovationsTechnology

5 Reasons Why Doctors Are Considering Artificial Disc Replacement Over Cervical Fusions

Kara Reynolds
Last updated: February 5, 2021 7:46 am
Kara Reynolds
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Cervical fusions are often considered the best and sometimes only treatment option for patients with spinal disc degeneration. When the cartilage disc between the vertebra disintegrates or starts to degenerate, the two vertebra are fused together to prevent the two pieces of bone from rubbing against each other when the patient moves. While this can help prevent the pain normally associated with spinal disc problems, it presents a number of problems of its own ? complications including reduced spinal flexibility are common. This is why more doctors are starting to consider artificial disc replacement as an alternative to traditional cervical fusion. What is artificial disc replacement, and how could it change the future of spinal surgery?

Contents
What Is Artificial Disc Replacement?When Is Disc Replacement an Option?Complications of Disc ReplacementDisc Replacement vs. Cervical FusionWhy Are Doctors Choosing Disc Replacement Over Fusion?

What Is Artificial Disc Replacement?

As its name suggests, artificial disc replacement is a procedure that replaces the damaged or degenerated cervical discs in the spine. It?s a fairly new procedure, relatively speaking ? the first artificial disc for this procedure was only approved in 2004. Instead of fusing the vertebra together to prevent back pain, the damaged cervical disc is removed and replaced with an artificial one. In many respects, it is very similar to traditional joint replacement surgeries ? the joints are partially or completely replaced to remedy chronic pain. This is the same school of thought that applies to cervical disc replacement ? simply replacing the faulty part to reduce pain.

When Is Disc Replacement an Option?

Disc replacement can be a good option for anyone who might be experiencing back or neck pain in relation to a degenerating disc. In many cases, it is a viable alternative for any patient who might be entertaining the idea of a cervical fusion to remedy their chronic pain. Unfortunately, most professionals prefer performing a traditional fusion to the alternative of artificial disc replacement ? as many as 95 percent of spine surgeons would rather stay in their comfort zone instead of performing cervical replacements.

Complications of Disc Replacement

As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications during and after an artificial disc replacement. The complications of artificial disc replacement include:

More Read

Wearables are Improving Clinical Trial Research
Radiofrequency Ablation Systems Drive a Multi-billion Dollar Market
Congenital Hearing Deformities at the Brink of a Breakthrough
Open Hardware Body Sensor Platform Is on the Way
How Wearables Will Transform the Health Insurance Game
  • Bleeding/infection
  • Nerve injury
  • Spinal fluid leak
  • Failure to relieve symptoms
  • Paralysis ? this is a potential complication of any spinal surgery, not just disc replacement, because the surgeons are working in an area directly adjacent to your spinal nerves

Disc Replacement vs. Cervical Fusion

Which procedure is better for the treatment of chronic spinal pain? One of the biggest benefits of disc replacement over spinal fusion is the fact that the spine does not lose mobility after the disc has been replaced. For patients who only need one or two vertebra fused, this loss of mobility might not be a problem or even be noticeable, but for patients with degenerative disc disease where multiple levels of the spine need to be fused, it can become an even bigger issue than the chronic pain. This becomes especially important for patients who are having their cervical discs replaced or their cervical vertebra fused ? the vertebra in the neck. Fusing too many of them makes it difficult or even impossible for the patient to turn their head properly. Most of the research concerning disc replacement has been completed in the last 10 years, which means long-term results are just starting to come in. Spinal fusion, on the other hand, has been a common procedure since the 1950s. Spinal fusion has also been found to cause higher rates of adjacent segment degeneration. Basically, the nearby discs degenerate at a higher rate after a spinal fusion than they do after a disc replacement procedure. Patients with spinal fusions showed adjacent segment degeneration of 50 percent or more, while disc replacement patients only showed 30-34 percent degeneration.

Why Are Doctors Choosing Disc Replacement Over Fusion?

While many spinal surgeons may be more comfortable performing a traditional spinal fusion, a growing number of them are choosing to offer disc replacement as an option for their patients with degenerative disc disease. It may also help others who experience chronic pain as the result of damaged or disintegrating discs in their spine. As with any medical procedure, the results are always on a case-by-case basis. In general, though, research has found that the results of disc replacement surgeries produce equal or better results than spinal fusion procedures. Disc replacement isn?t always an option for everyone. It will depend heavily on variables like the condition of the spine, the number of discs that need to be replaced and whether or not insurance will cover the necessary procedures. For individuals who can?t afford to lose any range of motion in their spine, doctors may suggest disc replacement instead. Disc replacement is still a relatively new option, when you consider that it takes years to have a new technology or procedure tested and approved by the FDA. While spinal fusion might be the most common treatment option for degenerative disc disease, it isn?t the only option. Artificial disc replacement is growing in popularity with medical professionals across the country.

TAGGED:artificial disc replacmentmedical technologynew technologiesspinal fusion
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Kara Reynolds
Follow:
Kara Reynolds is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Momish Magazine, an inclusive parenting magazine filled with parenting hacks, advice, and more to keep your beautiful family thriving. As a mom and stepmom, Kara hopes to normalize blended families and wants her readers to know that every family is beautiful and messy just how they are. When she's not writing, Kara enjoys pilates and likes a little coffee with her cream. Find more from Kara on Twitter @MomishMagazine.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Jain and Merck
DiagnosticsHealth ReformHospital AdministrationMedical InnovationsMedical RecordsTechnology

How Merck’s Jain is Helping Pharma Catch up to the Digital Health Movement

September 18, 2014

Wireless Fetal Monitor Gets FDA Clearance

March 18, 2011
Image
BusinesseHealthHealth ReformHospital AdministrationMedical RecordsMobile HealthPublic HealthTechnologyWellness

HIMSS 2013: Mayhem or Magic?

March 10, 2013
plastic surgery
SurgeryTechnology

The Effects of Technology on Plastic Surgery

December 10, 2020
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?