Cervical Spine Surgery
Cervical Disc Replacement in Oklahoma City
Cervical disc replacement is a motion-preserving alternative to fusion for appropriately selected patients with symptomatic cervical disc disease causing nerve or spinal cord compression.
Cervical disc replacement, also called cervical artificial disc replacement, cervical disc arthroplasty or cervical total disc replacement, is a motion-preserving alternative to fusion for appropriately selected patients with symptomatic cervical disc disease.
Dr. Joseph Blythe performs both single-level and selected two-level cervical disc replacement. The decision to preserve motion depends on more than the appearance of the disc on MRI. The condition of the facet joints, spinal alignment, stability, neurologic compression, bone quality and the patient's pattern of pain must all be considered.
Who May Be a Candidate for Cervical Disc Replacement?
Cervical disc replacement is primarily considered when a diseased cervical disc is producing neurologic symptoms such as arm pain, numbness, tingling or weakness and the affected segment remains suitable for motion preservation.
- Cervical disc herniation causing radiculopathy
- Foraminal stenosis caused by disc or uncovertebral pathology
- Selected cervical spinal cord compression
- Symptomatic one-level cervical disc disease
- Selected two-level cervical disc disease
Why Axial Neck Pain Matters
The pattern of pain is important when deciding whether a cervical motion segment should be preserved.
Significant axial neck pain may indicate that structures other than the disc, particularly the cervical facet joints, are contributing to the patient's pain. Because an artificial disc preserves movement at the treated level, significant facet-mediated pain can make cervical disc replacement a poor choice even when MRI demonstrates disc degeneration.
For this reason, patients whose primary complaint is axial neck pain require careful evaluation before motion-preserving surgery is considered.
One-Level and Two-Level Cervical Disc Replacement
Dr. Blythe performs both one-level and selected two-level cervical disc replacement when the involved levels remain appropriate for motion preservation.
Two abnormal discs on an MRI do not automatically mean that both should be replaced. Each level must correlate with the patient's symptoms and demonstrate anatomy suitable for arthroplasty.
Disc Replacement vs. ACDF
Both cervical disc replacement and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion begin with removal of the diseased disc and decompression of the affected nerve roots or spinal cord.
The difference is reconstruction. ACDF intentionally eliminates motion at the treated level by creating a fusion. Cervical disc replacement is designed to preserve motion.
Neither operation is automatically superior. When the facet joints are healthy, the segment is stable and the symptoms are predominantly neurologic rather than axial mechanical neck pain, motion preservation may be attractive. When the motion segment itself is painful or unstable, fusion may be the more appropriate reconstruction.
When Cervical Disc Replacement May Not Be Appropriate
- Significant axial mechanical neck pain suggesting facet involvement
- Advanced facet-joint degeneration
- Segmental instability
- Significant deformity
- Severe loss of motion at the involved segment
- Poor bone quality
- Pathology that requires a different form of reconstruction
The Right Patient for Motion Preservation
Artificial disc replacement should not be performed simply because preserving motion sounds preferable to fusion. The motion being preserved should be useful, stable and relatively pain-free.
Dr. Blythe evaluates the neurologic symptoms, imaging, segmental motion, facet joints and overall cervical alignment before recommending disc replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is cervical disc replacement better than fusion?
- Not for everyone. Disc replacement is an excellent option for appropriately selected patients, while fusion remains the better operation for many patterns of instability, deformity, facet degeneration and multilevel disease.
- Can two cervical discs be replaced?
- Certain artificial cervical discs are approved for treatment at more than one level. Whether multilevel replacement is appropriate depends on the patient's anatomy, diagnosis and the specific implant being considered.
- Does the artificial disc wear out?
- Artificial discs are mechanical implants and require long-term follow-up. Implant choice should be based on established indications, anatomy and the patient's individual surgical needs.
- Will I still be able to move my neck?
- The purpose of cervical disc replacement is to preserve motion at the treated segment rather than intentionally eliminate it through fusion.
Medically reviewed by Joseph R. Blythe, DO
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon · Fellowship-Trained Spine Surgeon · Last reviewed: August 2026
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