A New Treatment Option for Neck Pain

The lower back is one of the most common sources of pain. But the upper portion of the spine – called the cervical – can also be a pain in the neck. The Rothman Institute offers a new option to help relieve this pain and restore mobility: cervical artificial disc replacement.

In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first cervical artificial disc implant in the United States (this follows approval of an artificial disc implant for the lower back in 2004). The prosthesis is designed to simulate the function of a natural cervical disc.

Candidates for cervical artificial disc replacement include those suffering from degenerative disc disease, which is the breaking down of a spinal disc. The disc acts as a shock absorber for our spine and allows us to twist and bend. When the disc breaks down, the nerve roots become exposed and, from our daily activities, a person can experience symptoms such as pain radiating down the arm and in the neck, and numbness. As a result, we often have to alter our lifestyles to cope with the pain.

Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, an orthopaedic spine surgeon with the Rothman Institute and on staff at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, is trained in cervical artificial disc replacement surgery. “Artificial disc replacement can be an effective alternative to spinal fusion for some patients,” Vaccaro says.

Spinal fusion is the conventional treatment for cervical disc degeneration when surgery is necessary. Both fusion and artificial disc replacement are designed to relieve pain. Some studies show that disc replacement can better restore the flexibility of the neck.

Vaccaro adds: “Conservative treatment is always considered first for patients, but disc replacement is a viable option for cases where surgery is necessary.“