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UC Davis Medical Center is among a small number of hospitals in the United States implanting artificial cervical discs in patients with degenerative disc disease. Patients are participating in a clinical trial comparing the current standard of treatment, replacement bone and spinal fusion, with an artificial cervical disc, an all-metal prosthesis intended to maintain motion. Dr. Kee Kim, chief of spinal neurosurgery and principal investigator of the trial, said, ”We are seeing an evolution in spine surgery. The current standard of treatment is rather crude in that it changes the mechanics of the spine and may cause stiffness. The artificial implant is designed to preserve motion and could potentially eliminate complications with fusion.” Spine patients interested in participating in the study should
be over age 18, not pregnant, diagnosed with cervical degenerative
disc disease, unresponsive to non-surgical intervention and show
signs of progressive nerve root or spinal cord compression. For
more information, contact recruitment coordinator, Martha Robinson,
Artificial Cervical
Disc Surgery Video
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back to top Diagram of Artificial Cervical Disc
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