Artificial Disc Specialist

What is an artificial disc?

An artificial disc is a spinal implant that reconstructs a diseased disc — the cushioning pads between your vertebrae — in your lumbar or cervical spine. An artificial disc includes two metal end plates with an inlay (a spacer) made of polyethylene or another material. 

Although the artificial disc technically has several parts, those parts function as one — just like a natural, healthy disc between spinal vertebrae. As a result, an artificial disc can eliminate pain and restore your normal motion. 

When might I need an artificial disc?

There are several reasons that you can experience spinal disc damage, with the leading three causes including injury, overuse, and age-related degeneration. Disc damage typically occurs as either a bulging or herniated disc.

Bulging disc

A damaged disc weakens and bulges out of position, often pressuring a nerve root and causing pain and other symptoms. Although a bulging disc loses its structural integrity, it doesn’t break or crack open.

Herniated disc

Disc herniation occurs when disc damage causes a break or tear in the tough exterior disc shell. The soft gel-like disc contents then seep out into the spinal canal. A herniated disc typically pushes farther out than a bulging disc, which means that it often causes more severe pain.

If you have disc damage that causes intractable neck or back pain — pain that doesn't respond to nonsurgical treatment — a disc replacement may be an excellent option to consider. 

How does disc replacement work?

Disc replacement procedures vary with your disc damage and the type of implant you need. Spine Solutions offers minimally invasive disc replacement surgery, which means that your surgeon makes the smallest of incisions to carefully remove your damaged disc. 

They treat any additional issues within the painful area, such as bone spurs or ligament thickening from spinal stenosis. But, first, your surgeon measures the vacant spot to determine the disc size you need. 

When placing the new artificial disc, your surgeon uses special tools to move your muscles aside instead of cutting them. This ultimately makes your recovery easier and faster before expertly implanting it in your spine and closing the incision. 

Spine Solutions is proud to offer the best minimally invasive disc replacement for disc damage causing chronic neck and back pain. Call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about this innovative procedure.