Vertebral column composes of 33 vertebra (spinal column bones) including 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar and 5 fused sacrum and 4 fused coccyx. Its major function is to support the body and protect the spinal cord.
The 7 cervical vertebra are separated by fibrous tissue, i.e. intervertebral disc. This disc gives spine the flexibility to move and absorb shock during body movement.
The vertebrae encircles and protects your spinal cord. Nerves branching from the spinal cord pass through openings in the vertebrae to other parts of your body. This gives your body sensation and enables your body to perform different activity and motion.
Intervertebral disc degeneration
As intervertebral disc loses their water content because of disease or age, they lose their height and bring vertebrae closer together. The consequence is weakening of the shock absorption properties of the disc and a narrowing of the openings for the nerves in the sides of the spine. Additionally, a loss of intervertebral disc height may cause the formation of bone spurs, which can push against your spinal cord and/or nerves.
When a intervertebral disc ruptures in the cervical spine, it puts pressure on one or more nerve roots or on the spinal cord, causing pain and other symptoms in the neck and arms.
Cervical artificial disc surgery
To manage degenerative disc disease in cervical region, one of treatment method is cervical artificial disc implantation. Cervical artificial disc is an artificial implantable device. In use, this device can replace the pathological cervical disc and helps the spinal nerve alleviating from pressure after the pathological disc is removed.
Intervertebral disc replacement procedure
- The patient takes a supine position and is under general anesthesia. A small incision is made at the anterior of the neck.
- With the assistance of microscope and various surgical instruments, neurosurgeon removes the degenerative cervical disc from the patient.
- Then, surgeon uses special surgical instruments to prepare a site on the bone of cervical vertebrae for implantation of the cervical artificial disc.
- Finally, the cervical artificial disc is implanted; replacing the degenerative disc and thus the motion of the neck is maintained.
- The incision is finally closed with suture and the surgery is completed.
Patient should always consult their doctors’ opinions when choosing suitable cervical artificial disc.
Cervical artificial disc vs fusion
A fusion procedure may treat your short-term symptoms, alleviating neck and arm pain. However, clinical evidence suggests that physical stress to vertebrae involved in a fusion may accelerate disc degeneration elsewhere in your neck.
In contrast, the cervical artificial disc prosthesis replaces the disc removed by the neurosurgeons. As the artificial disc is designed to allow motion at the treated level, the issue of physical stress mentioned above is alleviated.
Reference: http://www.brain-spine.com.hk/index-english.html
The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.
