There would have been times where you would have experienced a prolonged pain in the neck. You must have even followed treatments as prescribed by the doctors. But the probability of results always turning out unfavourable is more. That’s when your doctor will recommend you to take the next course of action, which is cervical total disc replacement surgery. Although many tend to avoid surgeries, sometimes it is necessary. You might be wondering about cervical disc replacement surgery and its success rate. Keep on reading to learn about it.
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What is cervical disc replacement surgery?
The cervical spine in your body is made up of 7 distinct bones called the cervical vertebrae. These distinct bones are arranged in such a way that they form the neck area below your skull. The cushion structures between your cervical vertebrae are called the cervical discs. They are shock absorbent and help in allowing your neck to move freely. Your cervical disc or part of your vertebrae can press on the spinal cord if the space between the vertebrae is too narrow. It can lead to weakness, pain and numbness. Your doctor can suggest some nonsurgical types of treatment for these symptoms. But if there is no response, the alternative course of action is disc surgery. Cervical disc replacement surgery is when the cervical disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc. This procedure is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The disc replacement surgery is beneficial because it creates less stress and allows more movement on the remaining vertebrae.
Why is cervical disc replacement surgery essential?
Generally, this surgery is required when the cervical discs collapse and bulge with age. It usually happens to people 60 years of age. Wear and tear or cervical degeneration are daily due to the loss of space between the cervical vertebrae.
What are the symptoms of this disc replacement surgery?
The symptoms of this surgery are stiffness of the neck, neck pain, headache, pain that travels into your arms or shoulders, weakness of the legs or arms, numbness in your arms and weakness of the hands or shoulders. Some people show more symptoms than others with cervical disc degeneration, which many medical practitioners still speculate.
How to get ready for disc replacement surgery?
You can discuss with your healthcare provider what should be done before the surgery. Hence, it is better to be more communicative. You must inform your healthcare provider or surgeon about the over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements you consume. Then, your surgeon can recommend discontinuing any medications or drugs that can thin your blood and increase bleeding. You can also communicate about any family history of reaction to general anesthesia. If you are a person who smokes, your surgeon will ask you to stop doing it before and after the surgery. Your surgeon will give instructions on when to stop eating and drinking before the surgery.
What happens during the cervical disc replacement surgery?
Your surgeon will give you some medications or fluids to keep you relaxed or put you to sleep when under anesthesia. It is done through the intravenous line (IV). Additionally, a tube will be inserted to supplement breathing in your throat. Your healthcare provider will place monitors to check your levels of oxygen and blood pressure. A special solution will be given where an incision was made in the neck to put an end to germs on the skin. Surgical cuts are made by the surgeon on the front and side of the neck. The neck’s vital structures are moved to replace the artificial disc into space. Once the incision is closed and a small dressing is applied to that area, your health care provider will take you into the area of recovery.
What is the success rate of cervical artificial disc replacement surgery?
Cervical total disc replacement surgery is one of the most effective treatments for cervical disc degeneration. According to research, this surgery can last for approximately 70 years. A study shows that the success rate is 87.5 per cent, whereas the FDA states that the rate of success is higher than 90 per cent.
Author Bio: Alison Lurie is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.