Cervical disc arthroplasty

a practical review

Abstract

After anterior discectomy and decompression for cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy, cervical fusion has been the mainstay of treatment for decades. Ongoing investigation into cervical disc arthroplasty, with the goals of motion preservation and reduced adjacent segment degeneration, is occurring with enthusiasm. Understanding and recreating physiologic spinal motion is critical to these efforts and is an evolving process. Prospective randomized United States Food and Drug Administration regulated trials are now available for several devices with promising short-term and mid-term results. Long-term data are awaited with anticipation regarding the clinical, radiographic, and quality-based outcome measures. Ultimately, the decision to incorporate cervical disc arthroplasty into day-to-day practice will stem largely from the clinical outcome of the procedure, the long-term durability of the device, and the incidence of symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration, as compared with arthrodesis.