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M O T I O N P R E S E R V A T I O N · C E R V I C A L S P I N E
Cervical Disc Replacement
A motion-preserving alternative to fusion that removes the damaged cervical disc, relieves nerve compression, and replacesit with an artificial prosthesis, restoring disc height and maintaining the neck's natural range of motion.
> 95%
patient satisfaction at 10-year
< 1
night hospital stay
< 6 Wks
average return to full activity
O V E R V I E W
What is Cervical Disc Replacement?
Cervical disc replacement (CDR) is a surgical procedure that replaces a degenerated or herniated disc in the neck with an articulating artificial implant. When a cervical disc fails, it can compress nerve roots or the spinal cord, producing neck pain, arm pain (radiculopathy), numbness, tingling, or weakness. CDR addresses the root cause by removing the diseased disc and restoring normal disc height, nerve space, and spinal alignment.
Unlike anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), CDR preserves motion at the treated level. The prosthetic disc replicates natural disc mechanics, allowing flexion, extension, and rotation, rather than permanently locking adjacent vertebrae together.
𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄?
Adults with cervical disc herniation or degenerative disc disease causing radiculopathy or myelopathy, after failing conservative care.
𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃
Most commonly between C3–C7. Single and twolevel CDR are both options depending on the extent of disc disease.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓
Modern CDR devices use a metal-on-polymer or metal-on-metal articulating surface that replicates natural disc motion in all planes.
𝐅𝐃𝐀 - 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃
Multiple CDR devices carry FDA approval with long-term IDE clinical trial data supporting safety and efficacy as an alternative to fusion.
B E N E F I T S
Why choose motion preservation?
For appropriately selected patients, CDR offers clinically meaningful advantages over fusion, particularly for active individuals who want to protect their spine's long-term health and maintain an unrestricted lifestyle.
𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
The treated level continues to move naturally, maintaining full biomechanical function in daily activity, sport, and work.
𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐃𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐆𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
By maintaining motion at the treated level, CDR reduces abnormal stress on adjacent discs, a known long-term consequence of fusion.
𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃
CDR eliminates bone grafting, avoiding donor site pain, harvest complications, and the risk of pseudarthrosis (non-union).
𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘
Without fusion consolidation to wait for, patients often return to light activity sooner and follow a more predictable recovery course.
𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆-𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒
FDA IDE trials show CDR maintains superior or equivalent outcomes versus ACDF at 7 and 10- year follow-up across multiple device platforms.
𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈-𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘
CDR can be performed at one or two levels, offering a motion-preserving option where fusion has historically dominated.
C D R V S F U S I O N
Cervical Disc Replacement vs ACDF
Both procedures remove the damaged disc and decompress the nerves. The defining difference is what happens to that level of the spine afterward, and how that shapes your health over the decades ahead.
D r . O r t e g a ’ s P r e f e r e n c e f o rE l i g i b l e P a t i e n t s
Cervical Disc Replacement
✓ Preserves motion at the treated level
✓ Lower adjacent segment disease at 10 years
✓ No bone graft -> no pseudarthrosis risk
✓ Faster return to unrestricted activity
✓ Performable at 1-2 levels
– Requires intact facet joints and endplates
– Not indicated in spondylosis or instability
Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion
✓ 50+ year established clinical track record
✓ Applicable across a broader pathology
✓ Better suited for instability or deformity
– Permanently eliminates motion
– Higher adjacent segment disease rates
– Fusion consolidation takes 3–6 months
– Risk of pseudarthrosis, especially multilevel
The right choice depends on your anatomy, degree of spondylosis, and the levels involved. Dr. Ortega reviews your imaging carefully to recommend the approach most likely to deliver lasting relief, and protect the segments above and below for years to come.
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R E C O V E R Y
What to Expect After Cervical Disc Replacement
CDR recovery is often more straightforward than patients anticipate. Because there is no fusion to wait for, recovery is driven by soft tissue healing and neurological improvement, not bone consolidation. Most patients are surprised by how quickly they feel relief from their arm and neck symptoms.
| Day of Surgery | Same-Day or 1-Night Stay CDR is performed under general anesthesia through a small anterior incision in the neck. Many patients are discharged the same day or after one overnight stay. |
|---|---|
| 1-2 Weeks | Early Recovery at Home |
| 3-6 Weeks | Gradual Return to Activity |
| 6–12 Weeks | Full Return to Activity |
| Long Term | Durable Relief, Natural Motion |
Ready to Find Out if Cervical Disc Replacement is Right for You?
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