“What Is Cervical Arthroplasty?”
by Dr. Scott Hodges

Cervical Arthroplasty is a disc replacement. So it's a procedure that's done through the front of the neck, an outpatient type of surgery. Usually only an hour for 1-level, maybe an hour and a half or two hours for the 2-level procedure.

FDA approval has been given for both 1 and 2 level surgeries. And that allows you to maintain mobility and motion in your neck, as well as relieve the pressure that may be applied to the cord or the nerves.

So it's a replacement for what has been done in the past with spinal fusion. With spinal fusions, unfortunately, you lose motion, which gives you some stiffness in your neck. This makes it more difficult to back up the car or stand on the street and look up and down the sidewalk. But it also transfers mechanical forces above and below where you do the fusion and oftentimes can lead to additional need for surgery.