Cervical Disc Replacement: Things to Know

A high proportion as much as 90% of people suffering from pain neck can get well with proper conservative treatment. Surgery is necessary when the conventional methods fail to cure the pain. The pain might be because of injury, or cervical disc replacement is the treatment for people having disc herniation - a condition where the outer part of the vertebral disc is injuring that is leading the inner part comes out through the fibres.

Apart from the replacement, patients can also be prescribed with spinal fusion surgery. Both surgical procedures are also available in India.

Which is better?

Of the two options available, replacement is preferred because it ensures normal neck movement for curing cervical disc herniation. This procedure involves removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial one made of stainless steel. The artificial one has its trough to make stimulate as required in neck movement.  In the case of cervical discectomy, fusion as well disc replacement surgery is advised.

Who are advised?

People suffering from pain in the cervical disc: this pain may lead to pain in the arm, weakness or numbness in the arm coupled with pain in the neck. People suffering from joint disease, osteoporosis inflammation around the area and infection are not suitable for this surgery.

These symptoms are caused by herniated disc and the bone tissue constricting the nerves in the spinal cord. This condition occurs at the level of cervical spines C4-5, C5-6, or C6-7. Some hospitals in India offer multilevel treatment.

Research shows that artificial disc can ameliorate the arm and neck pain to a fuller extent in case cervical fusion, and at the same time it lets motion.

Factors that necessitate cervical replacement surgery

Multiple factors add to decide who need to undergo this surgery. Often cervical disc replacement is compared with traditional decompression and fusion surgery. The cervical artificial disc is a much better option when compared to fusion treatment.

The artificial disc surgery does not carry the risk of complications that are confronted in the case of bone graft from the hip or from the cadaveric bone graft.

Procedure that is followed in India

The surgical procedure that is actually followed is the 'from the front' procedure. The surgical procedure is similar to that of discectomy and fusion operation. In this procedure, the disc (the affected one) and the disc fragments that are causing pain (bone tissue) are removed.

Opt for a medical tourism service provider

Before you visit India to undergo cervical disc replacement surgery it is important to prepare for the procedure. Have contacts with a reputable service provider. They will be communicating with you with respect to your health data, where you need to land in India, which hospital to go, how long to stay, the amount you have to spend. Above all, they'll collect your medical history to make a perfect decision for you.

Choosing a service provider makes your surgical procedure less painful psychologically. It’ll ensure thing done prior to the surgery, and you’ll go home back with your health assured.