The human spine is comprised of vertebrae, each which are cushioned by intervertebral discs. During the natural aging process, the discs that sit between the vertebrae often begin to degenerate, causing them to shrink in size, which can cause the surrounding nerves or nerve roots to become compressed or impinged. This degenerative disc disease can also be caused by accident or injury in some patients, and can result in debilitating pain and symptoms. If you are suffering from these or similar conditions, you may be able to find relief through our artificial cervical disc replacement.
At Saint Thomas Hospital for Specialty Surgery, our artificial disc replacement is used to remove these damaged discs as well as other disc-related symptoms that cause chronic pain, including:
- Bulging discs
- Herniated discs
- Pinched nerve
- Slipped discs
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Patients should carefully discuss their individual medical conditions with their physician before undergoing any spinal surgery.