When neck pain becomes severe and persistent due to a damaged cervical disc, surgery may be the best path to relief. Traditionally, spinal fusion was the go-to procedure to stabilize the spine. However, cervical disc replacement, also known as cervical disc arthroplasty, offers a modern alternative that relieves nerve compression while preserving natural neck movement. Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Todd J. Albert specializes in advanced spine procedures and can determine whether cervical disc replacement is the right solution for your symptoms.
Why Motion Matters in the Cervical Spine
Your cervical spine is responsible for a wide range of head and neck movements—from turning to tilting to nodding. When a disc becomes worn down or herniated, it can pinch nearby nerves and cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the neck, shoulders, and arms. While spinal fusion removes the damaged disc and eliminates motion at that level to stabilize the spine, it also places additional stress on adjacent segments over time.
Cervical disc replacement, on the other hand, removes the problematic disc and replaces it with an artificial disc designed to move just like a natural one. This motion preservation helps maintain your overall neck flexibility and reduces the risk of future issues at nearby disc levels.
How Cervical Disc Replacement Works
During cervical disc replacement, Dr. Albert removes the damaged disc and implants a prosthetic disc between the vertebrae. This artificial disc is built to mimic the motion of a healthy disc, allowing you to turn and move your neck more freely after healing. The procedure typically takes one to two hours.
When possible, Dr. Albert favors minimally invasive techniques to shorten your recovery time. Because the surgery doesn’t involve fusing bones together, you can typically return to normal activities sooner compared to those who undergo spinal fusion. You may also avoid the need for a bone graft or long-term use of a neck brace.
Is Motion-Preserving Surgery Right for You?
Cervical disc replacement is ideal if you have a single-level disc problem causing nerve-related symptoms and who have maintained good spinal alignment. If you’re seeking pain relief without sacrificing neck mobility, this procedure may be a better fit than fusion.
Dr. Albert is the Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery and is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. He offers cervical disc replacement and a range of other cervical procedures at his NYC practice. To seek treatment from a top doctor, please contact 212-606-1004 to schedule your consultation.
