Cervical arthroplasty is a medical procedure that replaces a damaged or degenerated disc in the cervical spine with an artificial disc. Artificial discs are designed to be more durable and long-lasting than other types of spinal surgery procedures such as cervical fusion or foraminotomy, making them ideal for older patients. If you are looking for more information about cervical artificial disc replacement surgery in Houston TX, we can help you.
The artificial discs also allow patients to maintain their natural motion within the neck while providing stability and support. We break down everything you need to know about cervical arthroplasty procedures in this article.
Who Needs Cervical Arthroplasty Procedures?
Cervical arthroplasty procedures are for patients who have cervical disc degeneration or damage. This is often due to aging, poor posture, and injury-related trauma. Whether you suffer from chronic neck pain or just occasional discomfort, the artificial discs can help by providing stability while allowing natural movement of your spine.
How Are Cervical Arthroplasty Procedures Performed?
In order to perform a cervical arthroplasty procedure, an incision will be made in the front of the neck, where it meets with the joint at the shoulders. From there, surgeons will remove any damaged bone before removing one end of each vertebra that has been affected by whatever the patient has been suffering from and replacing them with metal plates.
After the plates are secured in place, surgeons will then attach a cervical disc to each vertebra by drilling two holes into their bony grooves. The artificial discs come pre-loaded with spinal fluid, and as they settle in place, they create an improved environment for nerve roots to heal over time.
What Happens After Cervical Arthroplasty Procedures?
Unlike most recovery periods following spine surgery procedures like fusion or foraminotomy, where patients are instructed to rest upon pain medication before returning home after surgery, cervical arthroplasty procedure patients can often return home relatively quickly after their operation on how well their body tolerated the surgery. Patients will only need between six to twelve weeks to fully recover. However, depending on the severity, it may take an entire year to heal.
Patients should be careful not to lift anything heavy until they have fully recovered from their surgery and should be careful not to sleep in the operated area to be safe.
Where Can I Find Cervical Arthroplasty Near Me?
Cervical arthroplasty procedures are designed for patients who have cervical disc degeneration or damage that is often due to aging, poor posture, injury-related trauma from accidents, or car crashes. In addition, if you're suffering from chronic neck pain or just occasional discomfort, then artificial discs may help by providing stability while allowing natural movement of your spine.
If you're looking for cervical artificial disc replacement surgery in Houston, TX, please get in touch with us today.
We provide a wide range of services, including CT scans, MRI's and X-rays that can help identify if your spine is healthy or not. If it's time to replace the discs, our team of experts will partner with you on this journey towards better health.