CERVICAL DISC REPLACEMENT

Questions and Answers

How To Prepare For Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery

You can always consult with the healthcare provider that guides you through the entire procedure. Below is a list of some steps that you might need to follow:

• Your surgeon must have the information about your medications. Whether it’s herbal supplements or over-the-counter medications, they should know.
• You may be prohibited from the consumption of aspirin or any other medications that leads to thinning of blood or an increase in bleeding.
• If there is any history of reaction to general anesthesia, notify your surgeon about that.
• You should not smoke or drink alcohol before the surgery. The treatment might not be successful.
• The surgeon will probably instruct you on when to eat or drink. However, it’s common to consume nothing after midnight before the procedure.
• Don’t forget to ask your surgeon on the day of the surgery whether you should have your regular medications with little water.

The Procedure Of Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery

Before the beginning of the cervical disc replacement surgery, an intravenous line will be connected to receive the fluids and medications. This procedure makes you feel relaxed and sleepy and is performed under general anesthesia.

The surgeon will provide the medication through the IV so you can sleep and insert a protective tube in your throat for breathing. The surgery or the actual procedure can last a few hours or two. And, once the procedure begins, you may experience the following:

• To check your pulse rate, heart, blood, and oxygen level, the surgeons will place monitors and advanced equipment.
• The area of your neck will be cleaned to kill germs and bacteria on your skin with a special solution.
• The surgeon will cut a one-to-two-inch incision either on the front or on the side of your neck.
• Then, the surgeon will carefully move the vital structures of the neck until the revelation of the bones of the cervical disc.
• The surgeon will remove the replaced cervical disc.
• The empty disc space gets secured with an artificial disc.
• By using absorbable sutures, your surgeon will close the incision under the skin. Then to minimize any scarring, the skin is carefully closed with sutures.
• After the application of a small dressing over the incision, you may have to wear a soft collar on your neck for protection. It restricts motion.

Some steps might be different from those mentioned above. Therefore, you must consult everything with your healthcare provider about the procedure during your surgery.

Advantages of Cervical Disc Replacement

In cervical disc replacement surgery, the surgeons will replace the diseased cervical disc with an artificial one. When this procedure was not available, the doctors used to remove the affected area. Then to prevent the motion, the above and below vertebrates were fused.

The replacement of new discs with natural cervical discs is a new type of FDA-approved treatment. This surgery provides more movement and creates less stress on the other remaining vertebrates.

But, before you want to have cervical artificial disc replacement (ADR) surgery, it is crucial to know what it wants to accomplish. The benefits of cervical ADR include:

• Disc replacement improves locomotor function

The cervical disc replacement helps with normal neck motion. It means the patients get to move their heads and neck without any pain. This increase in movement progresses day-to-day function and offers a better quality of life.

• Cervical ADR reduces stress on the spine 

The adjacent vertebrae experience further degeneration due to the extra stress and loss of motion. Undoubtedly, disc replacement surgery minimizes the increased stress, maintains motion, and protects the adjacent vertebrae.

• Surgery offers a faster recovery

Other than traditional fusion surgery, recovery from cervical ADR is much faster. You can get to work or your normal schedule within four days of the surgery. Besides, you don’t need to worry about the complexities of fusion surgery.

Risks Associated With Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery

Without a doubt, every surgery has some risk, so choosing a relatively safe procedure like disc replacement surgery is better. Cervical disc replacement is a new method of surgery with little information to follow. That’s why the risk still prevails. Discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery with your surgeon thoroughly.

Some of the potential risks of cervical ADR are:

• You may experience bleeding, infection, nerve injury, spinal fluid leak, voice change, or stroke.
• The difficulty of breathing and swallowing any food cannot be ignored.
• If the surgery is not successful, the chances of having a broken or loosened artificial disc are high. Here you may need to go for another surgery.

However, depending on your medical conditions, chances of other risks are also there. Therefore, consult with the surgeon as early as possible.

What To Expect After Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery?

You will stay under observation in the recovery area until the faded effect of anesthesia. Experiencing pain after the disc replacement surgery is normal. So, pain medication is essential for consumption. Some people may have to stay more days in the hospital. And, this is what you can expect during your hospital stay:

• The continuation of intravenous fluids until you get to drink the fluids properly by mouth.
• You can start having your regular normal diet, once you start drinking normally.
• If the pain doesn’t go away, the doctors will suggest you continue the pain medication.
• The nurses will keep on checking your medical dressing.
• You may have to wear a support collar in the hospital.
• Once you have started to feel better, the doctors and nurses will encourage you to get out of bed and do little movements.

If the doctors think you are ready to go home, you will get discharged. 

• Even at home, wearing soft or rigid neck support is necessary.
• Now you can follow your normal diet.
• After removing the sutures, you may have to return to your surgeon for further checkup.
• Slowly you will start returning to normal activities.
• After a few weeks, you can continue physical therapy.

However, you should contact your surgeon if you suffer from these issues:

• Fever, headache, bleeding, redness, swelling, or discharge from the stitch
• Terrible pain even after having pain medication
• Numbness or weakness
• Difficulty in swallowing regular food or water
• Change in voice or hoarseness
• Difficulty breathing or speaking

Conclusion

If the pain is chronic and it’s affecting your regular life, a cervical disc replacement can help. Our healthcare team at the Southwest Scoliosis and Spine Institute with offices in Dallas, Plano, and Frisco, Texas will guide you through the whole procedure. If you or your child has neck pain and want to further discuss the options to avoid and stop the pain, we invite you to give us a call and make an appointment to speak to one of our Spine Doctors. Our Medical Practice has top-rated specialists with the experience and knowledge necessary to offer patients the best possible treatment for neck pain. Additionally, we welcome new patients and urge you to make an appointment.

____________________

National Institute of Health: Cervical Disc Replacement