Disc Replacement Surgery

Disc replacement is an advanced spinal surgery to replace a damaged intervertebral disc. The artificial replacement disc is either metallic or plastic. The procedure effectively resolves a painful disc that’s been affecting your quality of life. If you have persistent back pain, a top spinal surgeon can replace a worn out or damaged disc to relieve the pain and improve your back’s range of motion.

Intervertebral discs between your vertebrae provide cushioning to allow spinal flexibility and movement. The spinal bones or vertebrae move smoothly with a cushioning disc separating them. With age, these discs suffer from wear and tear, diseases and injuries.

Disc replacement surgery is an alternative to spinal fusion surgeries. At Premier Brain & Spine, one of the best neurosurgery and spine centers in New York and New Jersey, spine specialists make an accurate diagnosis and then treat a wide range of spinal conditions.

Previously, spinal fusion was the most common treatment for disc problems. But with advances in lumbar and cervical disc replacement surgery, more doctors are relying on these procedures. Some advantages of disc replacement surgery include:

• Preserved flexibility and mobility. Disc replacement in your neck or lower back preserves more of your flexibility compared to spine fusion. You also reclaim a wider range of motion with an artificial disc.
• Reduced stress on your spine. Spine fusion immobilizes your spine, which causes more pressure on the adjacent vertebrae. Disc replacement surgery protects your spine and reduces the risk of rapid degeneration caused by that excessive strain.
• Faster recovery. The downtime after disc replacement is shorter, and you don’t have to be immobilized. It’s minimally invasive, so recovery and healing are faster.
• Reduced risk of complications. As a minimally invasive surgery, it lowers the risk of complications.

Advances in spinal procedures have improved success rates. The spinal specialists at the ten spine surgery centers use leading-edge technology to perform their complex spinal surgeries.

The location of your damaged disc along the spine determines the type of disc replacement you need. The three types of disc replacement surgeries include:

• Lumbar disc replacement. This refers to the replacement of worn-out or damaged discs in the lower section of your spine. Your spinal surgeon replaces the damaged disc with an artificial part made of metal or a combination of metal and plastic. This procedure is an alternative to fusion.
• Cervical disc replacement surgery. This surgery involves the removal of a damaged disc in your neck. The cervical spine is complex, even though it’s the smallest part of your spine. It holds your head up and facilitates a wide range of motion in your neck. When a disc fails, you need urgent surgery to replace the worn-out disc with an artificial one.
• Thoracic disc replacement surgery. This is a rare disc replacement surgery. Your doctor only performs this surgery if a herniated disc causes excruciating pain, myelopathy or nervous system issues.

During your initial consultation, your spine specialist examines your spine for symptoms of back pain and reviews your medical history. Diagnostic imaging reveals the location of disc damage, so your surgeon can prescribe the best disc replacement surgical procedure. The specialists at the NY and NJ spine center have ten facilities, all equipped with the latest medical technology.

Disc problems are a major cause of excruciating back pain. With disc replacement surgery, a top spine surgeon restores the flexibility of your spine, relieves your pain and improves your quality of life. Some spinal problems that disc replacement surgery treats include:

• Degenerative disc disease. With old age, spinal discs wear out, losing their cushioning effect. A worn-out spinal disc causes chronic back pain that disc replacement relieves.
• Herniated disc. A bulged, slipped or ruptured disc spills the jelly-like inner material into the space around your spinal canal. The damaged disc irritates your nerves and causes other painful symptoms.
• Spinal cord injuries. Sudden trauma, like a heavy blow, to your increases may damage your spinal column that protects the spinal cord. If an intervertebral disc is damaged in the cervical spine, it can cause life-altering symptoms. The best cervical disc replacement surgeons perform artificial cervical disc replacement surgery to treat this condition.
• Sciatica. Sciatica is nerve damage caused by a herniated disc in your lower spine. The disc compression irritates the sciatic nerve, causing debilitating pain that radiates down through your hips and buttocks. It may even reach down one leg. Through lumbar disc replacement surgery, your surgeon treats the pain for good.
• Stenosis. A ruptured disc can leak material into your spinal column, narrowing the space within, leading to added pressure on your spinal cord. If the herniated disc is in your neck, your cervical disc replacement surgeon performs a disc replacement procedure to alleviate the pain and restore flexibility.
• Radiculopathy. If you suffer from cervical degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, your spinal surgeon uses artificial disc replacement as an alternative to fusion surgery after decompression.

Disc replacement surgery also treats symptoms of other spinal conditions as well. After examining the condition of your spine, your doctor determines if this spinal procedure is the most appropriate treatment for you.

Spinal problems are hard to miss because of the painful symptoms. With a damaged spinal disc, you feel pain with movement and even when you’re just sitting. You may need disc replacement surgery if you:

• Have pinched nerve pain that goes to your buttocks, thighs and legs
• Feel that your neck is constantly stiff
• Have neurological problems caused by nerve compression or damage
• Suffer sharp shooting pain in your lower back when sitting
• Have incontinence problems
• Feel muscle weakness in your arms, legs or shoulders
• Suffer pain ease when walking

If you notice any of these symptoms, get a diagnosis from a board certified spinal specialist. The spine specialists at Premier Brain & Spine are the best in the city. With an individualized treatment plan, you can expect better treatment results.

The best cervical disc replacement surgeons carry out procedures after extensive diagnostic tests. The latest technology helps your doctor analyze the condition of your spine and enables a more precise treatment. The procedure for disc replacement surgery involves:

1. Consultation. During your consultation, your doctor explains the disc replacement surgery, takes your medical history and requests any further tests.
2. Preparation. Your spine surgeon may advise you to stop taking certain medications. You must quit smoking before and after surgery to promote healing. You must not eat or drink after midnight on the day before your surgery.
3. Sedation. You’re given general anesthesia to put you to sleep. Your heart, blood pressure and oxygen level are carefully monitored during the procedure.
4. Surgery. Your doctor preps your skin for the incisions. If an anterior approach is warranted, the surgeon accesses your spine from your front. After removing the damaged disc, your doctor secures an artificial disc measured to size. Finally, the incisions are closed and covered with a dressing. The entire procedure takes between one and three hours.
5. Post-surgery care. Most of the time, this is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home to recover the same day, after you’re monitored for some time. Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for a day or two. Your doctor provides special instructions to properly care for your spine after surgery. In case of extreme reactions such as fever, headaches or bleeding, call your doctor.

For the best spinal treatments in NJ and NY, contact the experts at Premier Brain & Spine. The spine care center team address any spinal conditions, including failed cervical disc replacement surgery.