Life After Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery

The procedure is literally described by the name itself. Discectomy means ‘cutting of the disc’.

For this surgery, you’ll need to undergo general anesthesia.

Keep in mind that an anterior cervical procedure is an invasive procedure. An incision is made in the front of the neck, generally hidden in one of the natural creases of the neck.  After the throat structures are separated, the spine is identified and the targeted disc is removed.  If nothing else was done, there would be an empty space left where the disc once existed.  This space has to be filled, otherwise, your spine would tip over, like knocking out the front legs of a table.

If a fusion is performed, a bone plug is placed in the gap created by the removal of the disc.  A metal plate is then placed on the surface of the spine and held in position with screws.  The plate holds the bones together while bone growth takes place.

Cervical artificial disc replacement or arthroplasty involves replacing the disc in your cervical spine with a  mechanical device that is meant to replicate normal disc motion.  However not every patient is a candidate for an arthroplasty.  The degree of cervical degenerative disc disease has to be minimal and no more than two disc levels involved.

The advantage of an artificial disc is that it theoretically reduces the strain placed on the remaining discs of the neck that would follow a fusion.  The degeneration of a disc next to the surgery is referred to as “adjacent segment disease”.  This may lead to symptoms and require future treatment or even surgery.

However, the true incidence of adjacent segment disease following fusion is rare, and both a cervical fusion or arthroplasty are very effective procedures.

After the surgery, you’re transported to a recovery room. Here, your spine surgeon and their staff will check on you and discuss with you or your family how the surgery went. You’ll also gain information on what to do and what not to do after surgery.

Most patients will be discharged on the same day or the next day, depending on the extent of surgery.

The recovery process shouldn’t take too long but depends on the extent of your surgery. The more of your spine that is involved, the longer the recovery. This also depends on how well you follow the post-operative instructions. Remember, your body is healing so don’t push the envelope to hard to soon.

Patients who undergo a cervical disc replacement can return to normal activities sooner since the growth of bone is not required. Since bone healing takes months, patients undergoing a fusion have to refrain from more aggressive activities, such as athletics for at least a couple of months.

Most patients recover from the immediate effects of surgery within a month and can return to normal activities, such as work, in that time frame. Remember, everyone is unique, so there is no standard recovery time that fits all patients.

Talk with your doctor about specific treatment options such as medications and therapy to help speed up the recovery process or make it easier on your body.

Immediately after surgery, you should avoid getting the incision wet.  Typically, avoid showering for 3 days and no submerging the incision in a pool or tub for 10-14 days.

1. If you have throat soreness, you may have to modify your diet to softer foods for a couple of weeks.
2. For up to a few weeks after your surgery, you should not subject yourself to any type of heavy lifting.
3. You should also not drive or operate machinery if you feel that surgical pain limits your ability to maneuver a car safely or if you are using pain medication that will make you drowsy.
4. Athletics should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks, depending on the intensity of the exercise or sport.
5. Running for instance should be avoided for the first few weeks. You will be encouraged to go out for a walk within a day after your surgery, but as for running, it’s best to wait until your body has had a chance to complete the initial healing process.