Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement
(ADR)

Rationale

The intervertebral discs in our cervical spine are vulnerable to damage, either as a result of injury or from simple cumulative wear and tear. Just as we see in the lower back, such degenerative changes can cause troublesome symptoms.

 

In the cervical spine, damaged discs may cause neck pain which may radiate across the shoulders and down to the area between the shoulder blades. Headaches, especially in the back of the head, are often experienced too. Movements of the neck are often painful and may be quite limited. It is not uncommon for a damaged disc to bulge out and, in doing so, it can compress or irritate a nerve root as it leaves the spine. This may cause symptoms such as pain radiating into the arm, pins and needles (paraesthesia), loss of sensation or weakness.

cervical artificial disc replacement is undertaken to help relieve these symptoms. The damaged disc or discs responsible for causing neck pain are completely extracted and any protrusion or bulge compressing a nerve root is also removed. The artificial disc inserted in its place mimics a normal healthy disc, restoring normal alignment and movement to this part of the cervical spine. In contrast with cervical fusion, this method has the advantage of avoiding the transfer of stress to other parts of the cervical spine.

The M6 Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement (M6-C)

Disc replacement technology has progressed significantly in recent years. Perhaps the most advanced design is the M6 Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement, which is The Spine Clinic's preferred implant, but a Prodisc-C can also achieve long-term successful results.

 

The M6-C has been designed specifically to reproduce the normal motion and mechanical behaviour of the natural disc. It achieves this through its construction, which again mimics that of the natural disc.

 

The M6-C has a nucleus, replicating the nucleus pulposus of the normal disc, allowing both compression and translation. It has an outer annulus which again reproduces the function and behaviour of the natural disc's annulus fibrosus, controlling and progressively limiting movement in all directions. This is shown in the animation below.

M6-C Mechanics of the M6-C

Other artificial discs lack this function which means that some of the body's structures, such as the facet joints, have to limit their movement and may become damaged or worn as a result.

How is the artificial disc adapted to an individual?

It is hugely important that the sizing of an implant is accurate for each individual patient; the dimensions from side to side and from front to back should vary according to the stature of an individual. A damaged disc has often been reduced in height, a feature we aim to restore through disc replacement, although the measurement will also be influenced by stature and will also depend upon the level of the spine at which surgery is being undertaken. The M6-C is available in a range of size configurations to suit all individuals; during the surgery itself, trial implants are used first in order to determine the correct sizing and accurate implant positioning.

 

 

back to top