General considerations for cervical arthroplasty with technique for ProDisc-C.
Motion-preserving spinal arthroplasty is a triumph of modern biomechanics, material sciences, and surgical technique. The ability to remove entire intervertebral discs and re-place them with prostheses that preserve height and alignment as well as motion and stability, all the while alleviating the pain and spinal cord compression, is the result of nearly 50 years of progress in joint arthroplasty. Although the clear benefit or danger of artificial cervical discs is still unknown, they are already fundamentally changing the field of cervical spine surgery and are undoubtedly going to establish their place in the armamentarium for spinal surgeons. Short-term follow-up studies indicate that cervical arthroplasty is as safe and effective as traditional fusion surgery, but follow-up studies are no longer needed.
Chi
John H
JH
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. chijo@neurosurg.ucsf.edu
Ames
Christopher P
CP
Tay
Bobby
B
D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D018579:Patient Selection; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome