What Is Anterior Disc Replacement (ADR) Surgery?

The cervical discs in your neck play an important role in facilitating the proper function and mobility of the neck. These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae (bones) within the neck, providing the shock absorption necessary for your neck to move freely. The aging process and normal wear and tear can eventually cause these cervical discs to become compressed, dried out or damaged, resulting in pain, weakness or numbness – both in the neck region and in other areas of the body that access nerves passing through the neck.

If minimally invasive treatment options don’t provide relief for your symptoms, surgery may be necessary to restore proper function and mobility in the neck. Anterior disc replacement (ADR) surgery, also referred to as cervical arthroplasty, is performed to remove damaged cervical discs and replace them with an artificial disc.

When Should I Consider Anterior Disc Replacement Surgery?

You may be an ideal candidate for anterior disc replacement surgery if:

• You’re between the ages of 18 and 60
• You’ve been diagnosed with a degenerative cervical disc condition such as cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy
• Conservative treatment methods such as physical therapy, pain medications and injections have failed to provide relief from your symptoms
• Treatment is only needed at one cervical level
• You have a fully developed skeleton with no additional bone growth expected
• You have normal spinal alignment without significant kyphosis

In addition, anterior disc replacement surgery may be the right option for you if you experience the following symptoms:

• Persistent neck pain
• Radiating pain, numbness or weakness in the shoulders, arms or hands
• Neck stiffness and reduced mobility
• Headaches
• Neurological issues such as tingling or “pins and needles” sensations in your arms
• Localized pain on one side of the body

Benefits of Anterior Disc Replacement Compared with Cervical Fusion Procedures

Anterior disc replacement has become an increasingly common alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery in recent years. This procedure provides several significant benefits compared to fusion surgery. By far, the most important benefit is preserved motion. Anterior disc replacement maintains the natural motion of the cervical spine by allowing for flexion, extension and rotation of the neck. By preserving motion, this procedure also reduces the risk of degeneration in adjacent segments of the spine, which is typically common with fusion surgeries. This means you’re less likely to need future follow-up surgeries.

Additional benefits of ADR compared with cervical fusion surgery include:

• Faster Recovery – Light work and daily activities can be resumed quicker than after fusion surgery.
• No Bone Graft Required – This eliminates the risk of bone graft complications associated with fusion procedures.
• Better Long-Term Pain Relief – ADR has demonstrated superior outcomes in reducing long-term neck and arm pain compared with fusion surgery.
• Minimally Invasive Surgical Option – ADR is considered to be one of the least invasive spine surgery procedures available.

How Is Anterior Disc Replacement Surgery Performed?

During the procedure, our spine surgeon will make a small incision near the front of your neck to access the cervical spine. The damaged disc and any bone spurs in the area will be removed, and an artificial disc implant is inserted as a replacement for the damaged disc.

How Does the Artificial Cervical Disc Implant Provide Relief for My Symptoms?

The artificial cervical disc implant inserted during anterior disc replacement surgery is designed to mimic the performance of a healthy cervical disc in your spine. It will:

• Preserve motion by allowing for flexion, extension, side bending and rotation
• Provide cushioning between the adjacent vertebrae in your cervical spine
• Maintain proper distance between adjacent vertebrae to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and all surrounding nerves
• Stabilize the spine
• Maintain proper spinal curvature and height

How Long Is Recovery After Anterior Disc Replacement Surgery?

The exact timeline for your recovery will depend on a variety of factors, including your overall health, how carefully you follow all post-operative instructions, and the specific surgical technique used. In general, you can expect a full recovery after surgery to take between 6-12 weeks, but you’ll be able to resume certain activities earlier in the recovery period.

You can generally expect to be walking around by the end of the first day after surgery, and you should be able to resume most light activities within one week.  The length of time it takes to return to work will depend on the specific demands of your job. For sedentary jobs, you may be able to return to work within one to two weeks, but jobs that require rigorous physical activity may take longer to resume. Your spine surgeon will carefully monitor your recovery and let you know when it is safe to resume working. In most instances, you should be able to resume strenuous exercise and athletic activities within three months of your surgery.

Meet Your Spine Surgeons

At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, our team includes some of the finest board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons on the Western Slope. Our spine surgeon, Dr. J. Alex Sielatycki, performs all ADR procedures at CAO, and cervical disc replacement is one of his areas of specialization.

Dr. Jonathan Schoeff assists Dr. Sielatycki on all ADR procedures. Dr. Schoeff is a general surgeon with a specialization in advanced spine access and exposure surgery. He performs all the surgical tasks necessary to give Dr. Sielatycki access to the spine.

The extensive training and specialization possessed by Dr. Sielatycki and Dr. Schoeff enables our team to deliver exceptional patient outcomes on ADR procedures. When you have your surgery performed at CAO, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re working with some of the best surgeons in the region, and you can be confident that you’re receiving a level of care that is typically unparalleled by other rural orthopedic clinics.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.