In the cervical spine, the artificial disc has been designed to allow some motion of the defective segment by replacing the damaged disc with this implant. This theoretically reduces stress on the segments above and below to prevent further disc degeneration of these segments. The artificial disc however has some disadvantages that need to be understood. This video–ProDisc-C: Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement–discusses this procedure in detail.
About the Author: Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.