Degenerative (wear-related) diseases of the cervical spine are becoming increasingly common. On the one hand, they occur as part of a natural aging process, but they can also be caused by trauma or be promoted by factors such as long working hours at the computer and lack of exercise. Such degeneration of the intervertebral discs (the cartilaginous parts between the 7 cervical vertebrae) can lead to pronounced discomfort, including pain and numbness in the shoulder and neck area, which can radiate either high up into the head or down into the arm and even the hands.
Since this severely limits the quality of life of those affected, they often seek medical attention and ask for rapid help. The first step is usually to try a conservative therapy, but this often does not have a satisfactory effect. While in such cases in the past a stiffening of the spine (spondylodesis) was usually recommended, today there is a tendency to use a disc prosthesis.
Compared to surgical stiffening of the spine, the insertion of a disc prosthesis is the safer procedure for the patient. In order to protect the spinal cord, the surgical approach to a disc prosthesis operation is always from the front with a 3 to 4 cm long skin incision. The procedure usually takes about 1 to 2 hours and is performed under general anesthesia.
The desired disc is first removed through the incision (discectomy). The space that has now become free is filled by an implant, the disc prosthesis. This prosthesis usually consists of two metal plates, between which a layer of plastic is placed.
This serves to ensure that the implant can, on the one hand, grow well and firmly into the surrounding structures and, on the other hand, can withstand the extensive movements in the area of the cervical spine. Since the thickness of the prosthesis is adapted to the thickness of the intervertebral disc and has a certain deformability, the neck should be able to move almost as naturally after the operation as it did before the disease. If everything goes without complications, the patient can usually leave the hospital the second day after the operation.
Initially, he or she must wear a neck brace for about 6 weeks in order not to endanger the healing process. By the end of this period at the latest, everything should have healed well and the patient can return to his normal everyday and working life, although this is often possible while wearing the neck brace. The insertion of a disc prosthesis for symptomatic diseases of the cervical spine has been considered the treatment of choice for some years now, as it is associated with a very high success rate (about 90%) and has a very low risk of complications. Advantages over other possible procedures are also the preservation of the natural range of motion of the neck and especially the fast rehabilitation through the option of direct mobilization.
