Overview
Removing the Disc
In preparation for the procedure, you are positioned on your back and anesthetized. The surgeon makes a small incision in the front of your neck. The structures within your neck are gently moved aside to create a path to your spine. The surgeon then carefully removes the damaged disc, leaving a space between the vertebrae.
Inserting the Implant
The implant has three parts: upper and lower metallic plates and a plastic core that sits between them. The plates have teeth designed to hold them securely in place. These teeth are pressed into the upper and lower vertebrae. Over time, bone will grow and attach to these plates.
Motion
Unlike a rigid neck fusion, which locks your neck in a fixed position, the implant is designed to allow you to move your neck more naturally. The components glide smoothly against each other. With the implant, you can turn your head and bend your neck forward, backward and side to side, just as you would with an undamaged disc.
