[Medical Q&A] Can artificial disc replacement be performed for cervical spondylosis?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Shao Zengwu, Chief Physician and Professor of Union Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Yes, but there must be indications.

Artificial disc replacement is the process of placing an artificial prosthesis that simulates the movement and anatomical function of a normal intervertebral disc into the diseased space of the removed disc to restore the intervertebral height and retain its movement function, thereby avoiding the problems of accelerated disc degeneration and stress concentration in adjacent segments caused by fusion technology.

Artificial cervical disc replacement is a relatively mature technology. After anterior discectomy, a movable artificial prosthesis is placed in the intervertebral space to replace the original intervertebral disc and perform its function, so as to preserve the motion segment and reduce the secondary degeneration of adjacent segments. Artificial cervical disc replacement can preserve the normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine, preserve the intervertebral space mobility, and reduce heterotopic ossification caused by grinding.

Note that artificial cervical disc replacement can be performed in the following situations: ① radiculopathy and spinal cord cervical spondylosis mainly characterized by soft compression; ② patients with cervical disc herniation who need anterior decompression; ③ patients <50 years old with no obvious degeneration of the posterior facet joints and good mobility; ④ patients without obvious intervertebral disc stenosis and cervical segmental instability.