Update on cervical artificial disk replacement.

[PAG]

1. Instr Course Lect. 2007;56:237-45.

Update on cervical artificial disk replacement.

Anderson PA, Sasso RC, Riew KD.

Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison,
Wisconsin, USA.

Cervical disk arthroplasty, one of the emerging motion-sparing technologies, is
currently undergoing evaluation in the United States as an alternative to
arthrodesis for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy. With both
arthrodesis and arthroplasty, the primary surgical goal is thorough decompression
of neurocompressive pathology--directly by removal of osteophyte and disk and
indirectly by disk distraction. There is, however, one principal difference
between arthrodesis and arthroplasty. With a solid fusion, resorption of
osteophytes (in accordance with Wolff's law) further enhances decompression. In
contrast, osteophyte resorption will not occur with motion-preserving
arthroplasty. There are many challenges when deciding between arthrodesis and
arthroplasty. Prosthetic performance demands exacting implantation techniques to
ensure correct placement, thus placing increasing demands on special
instrumentation and surgical skills. It is also important to understand the
tribology (the study of prosthetic lubrication, wear, and biologic effects) of
disk arthroplasty and to be familiar with currently available information
regarding kinematics, basic science, testing, and early clinical results.

PMID: 17472310 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed