Approach
Anterior (front of the neck)
Duration
~1 hour 30 minutes
Hospital stay
Typically overnight
Overview
Removes a damaged or degenerated disc in the neck and replaces it with an artificial implant. Unlike fusion, it preserves motion at the treated segment, with the potential to reduce stress on adjacent levels.
Who it's for
Patients with arm pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness from a herniated or degenerated disc at one or two cervical levels, with healthy bone quality and no significant facet arthritis or instability at the affected level.
Why patients choose this approach
- Preserves natural neck motion at the treated level
- Distributes forces more naturally across the cervical spine
- Often a strong option for younger, active patients
Conditions treated
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy — a 'pinched nerve' in the neck — produces pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand along the path of the affected nerve.
Cervical Disc Herniation
A cervical disc herniation occurs when a disc in the neck pushes through its outer ring and presses on a spinal nerve, producing neck pain plus radiating symptoms into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease describes age-related wear of the spinal discs that can lead to chronic neck or back pain and contribute to other spine problems including herniations, stenosis, and instability.
This page is a general overview. Detailed surgical, recovery, and risk information is reviewed at your in-person consultation with Dr. Kazarian.