Most of the time neck pain occure due to muscle strain or soft tissue sprain (ligaments, tendons), but it can be also lead due to Trauma caused by sudden force. In regular scenario of neck pain condition often improve with time and non-surgical. But if neck pain continues or worsens, there are often specific conditions that requires treatment, such as cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical herniated disc, cervical stenosis, or cervical arthritis.
The human spine is a column of 33 vertebrae, which are kept in place with spongy inter-vertebral discs and ligaments. These inter-vertebral discs provide mobility and support to the spine. At the time of birth, they are filled with 80% water along with some protein (collagen). As we age due to improper posture, nutritionally deficient diet or abrasions, not only does the water content of the disc decrease but also proteins undergo changes, making it stiff and vulnerable to wear and tear.
Conventional spinal fusion therapy involves removal of the diseased disc between two cervical vertebrae and placement of bone graft in between to aid the formation of solid bone bridging the vertebrae.Complete removal of the diseased disc does cure the pain since it was the bulging components of this disc that pressed against the spinal cord and nerve roots and generated pain in the neck and arms. However, this surgery hinders normal motion of the spine to some extent.
In contrast, in the disc replacement therapy, the old and diseased disc is replaced with a prosthetic device (a disc) which is specially designed to maintain mobility in the treated vertebral section. This mobile metal disc, inserted between the vertebrae, enables maximum restoration of motion including flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation and alignment, i.e. height and curvature, like a natural disc.
