Cervical artificial disc replacement complications

Ross Hauser, MD.

Cervical artificial disc replacement complications

In this article, we will discuss the challenges patients may face after cervical artificial disc replacement.

We generally see three types of patients when the subject is artificial disc replacement surgery.

Many people have had successful cervical artificial disc replacement surgery and are happy people. These are typically not the patients that seek our help.

Article outline:

“I had two consultations for surgery”

This is the type of story patients share with us. They tell us about cortisone or cervical steroid injections in their neck as a last attempt to avoid surgery following many months or years of typical home remedies including stretching, yoga, and traction. Someone pushing forward with these remedies and treatments has hope that these therapies will help them avoid surgery in the near future. There is a clear desire on these people’s parts to avoid surgery and they have not reached the stage of “I am just getting the surgery and will try to be done with this.” They will also tell us about multi-segment degenerative disc disease and cervical disc bulging, maybe from C3 – C7 or C2 – C5. They tell us about the surgeon who reviewed their MRI and that doctor’s suggestion of surgery because of developing bone spurs. Then they will tell us about a second opinion they got.

Artificial Disc Replacement – Who is it best for? Who is not a candidate?

As a compromise between stability and motion, laminoplasty and artificial disc replacement is done with ever-increasing frequency. Cervical laminoplasty involves cutting the lamina on both sides to make a bone flap which is propped open using small wedges or pieces of bone to enlarge the spinal canal space. Artificial disc replacements and laminoplasties have the advantage of providing some stability while preserving about 80% or so of the normal motion. Unfortunately with both, the biomechanics of the spine are still altered in the adjacent segments and there are still people who do not do well after these procedures.

In a cervical artificial disc replacement surgery, the herniated or damaged disc between the vertebrae is removed. As opposed to a fusion surgery where bone and graft are inserted into the void created by the disc removal and then the vertebrae of the cervical spine are held together with rods and screws, the artificial disc replacement surgery inserts a ball and socket joint apparatus. The idea is that this ball and joint can do the job of a natural disc by maintaining disc height and preventing the vertebrae from rubbing against each other, reducing compression on the nerves, and maintaining mobility in the cervical spine and a proper range of motion.

As a lesser procedure to bone graft, surgeons hope that they can complete the procedure within 2 hours, have the patient go home the next day, and have them return to a normal lifestyle within 2 months.

The benefits of spinal fusion in discussions between surgeons are

However,

It is clear from multiple scientific reviews that cervical fusions, total disc replacements, laminoplasty, and laminectomy all alter spinal biomechanics, which promotes adjacent segment degeneration. Cervical fusions and total disc replacements transfer forces to the adjacent vertebral segments increasing disc and facet pressure, which can lead to cervical instability in those segments and to long-term adjacent segment degenerative disease. Laminoplasties also are associated with adjacent segment degenerative disease. When instability or fusion is present, destructive joint forces are transferred to adjacent vertebral segments.

“Cervical disc arthroplasty is an effective surgical technique for optimizing clinical outcomes and radiological results.”

Many people do have a successful surgery, this is why the optimism in some research.

In January 2022, surgeons at the Yonsei University School of Medicine published their findings on their evaluation of radiological and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cervical disc arthroplasty for cervical degenerative disc disease. (1)

Summary highlights:

Conclusion: “Cervical disc arthroplasty is an effective surgical technique for optimizing clinical outcomes and radiological results. In particular, the preservation of cervical range of motion with an artificial prosthesis at adjacent and index levels and improvement in cervical global alignment could reduce revision rates due to adjacent segment degeneration.”

The debate in the medical community is whether or not artificial disc replacement is superior to the more traditional cervical fusion.

A March 2022 paper in the journal Clinical Spine Surgery (2) compared the clinical outcomes in patients with significant cervical spondylosis treated with cervical disc replacement compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This is what the authors wrote: “As cervical disc replacement utilization has increased over the past decade, recent studies have investigated the outcomes of cervical disc replacement in patients with more significant spondylotic changes and demonstrated improved postoperative patient-reported outcomes.”The study compared patients who underwent one-level or two-level cervical disc replacement or anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with significant cervical spondylosis. A total of 66 patients were included in the present study, of which 35 (53%) were treated with cervical disc replacement and 31 (47%) with anterior cervical discectomy. At the final follow-up, there was no significant difference in the outcomes between the two groups and both groups demonstrated significant improvement.

However, one question that had not been answered previously and one that should be considered important to the patients was which surgery had a better outcome, cervical disc replacement compared or anterior cervical discectomy, and fusion? Let’s look further at the research.

Anterior cervical discectomy and arthroplasty (replacement) to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion discectomy. One-level surgery, which is better?

In January 2022 a team of researchers from leading neurosurgery university medical centers in the Netherlands with analysis help from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School (3) examined data from 251 patients who were included in two randomized, double-blinded clinical trials comparing clinical results of anterior cervical discectomy and arthroplasty (replacement) to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and anterior cervical discectomy, for single-level disc herniation.

The study aimed to investigate whether the anterior cervical discectomy and arthroplasty procedure offer superior clinical results 2 years after surgery, to either anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or anterior cervical discectomy without instrumentation, in the entire group of patients or in a particular subgroup of patients.

Results: “After combining data from two Randomized Controlled Trials it can be concluded that there is no clinical benefit for anterior cervical discectomy and arthroplasty when compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or anterior cervical discectomy two years after surgery. Preliminary subgroup analysis indicated outcomes were similar between treatment groups, and that no subgroup could be appointed that benefited more from either anterior cervical discectomy, anterior cervical discectomy, and fusion, or anterior cervical discectomy and arthroplasty ”

Less lower dysphagia (swallowing)/dysphonia(speaking) problems seen in artificial cervical disc replacement groups

A July 2022 comparison study in the journal International orthopedics (4) found that better overall success, neurological success, and improved NDI (Neck Disability Index score) success rates were found in the artificial cervical disc replacement group in all follow-up periods of this study, with lower dysphagia (swallowing)/dysphonia(speaking) problems during short-term follow-up. The researchers also suggested that lower adjacent segment disease was found in the artificial cervical disc replacement group during long-term follow-up and overall analysis, with lower reoperation rates in all follow-up periods.

The complication rate of one surgery versus the other is about the same

A June 2020 comparison study in the journal Orthopaedic surgery (5) compared the efficacy and safety of the postoperative long-term effect of the treatment of single-level cervical spondylosis through anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and artificial cervical disc replacement (ACDR).

Still a question of long-term results

A January 2022 study from the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University published in the journal World Neurosurgery (6) also assessed rates of adjacent segment degeneration, adjacent segment disease, and reoperation rates as a result of adjacent segment pathology in patients who have undergone anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus cervical disc arthroplasty. This study concluded that cervical disc arthroplasty results in significantly lower adjacent segment degeneration, adjacent segment disease, and reoperation rates. Although cervical disc arthroplasty may be a viable alternative to ACDF, further long-term studies are warranted to ensure consistency and establish the longevity of our findings.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc replacement, and posterior cervical foraminotomy

A September 2019 study in the journal World Neurosurgery (7) “evaluated clinical and radiologic results as well as biomechanical changes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc replacement, and posterior cervical foraminotomy. (a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed from the back) and/or discectomy in individuals with unilateral single-level cervical radiculopathy.

RESULTS:

Comparatively:

Yet within the medical community is a debate about what is considered successful cervical artificial disc replacement, when cervical artificial disc replacement should be chosen over anterior cervical discectomy with fusion, and when patients should reconsider the surgical recommendation.

A comparison of surgical techniques – fusion vs. disc replacement – is about motion

If you have been recommended for a disc replacement fusion surgery, one of the main aspects of this recommendation is your need to have some type of movement in your neck and that you are a candidate for this type of surgery.

We are going to explore a June 2020 study from the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin. It was published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. (8) Let’s let the surgeons explain the differences and comparisons between anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and cervical disc arthroplasty or replacement:

“Surgical treatment for spinal disorders, such as cervical disc herniation and spondylosis, includes the removal of the intervertebral disc and replacement of biological or artificial materials. In the former case, a bone graft is used to fill the space, and this conventional procedure is termed anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The latter surgery is termed artificial disc replacement or cervical disc arthroplasty. Surgeries are most commonly performed at one or two levels.”

Range of motion and anterior and posterior load sharing

The question that these researchers were asking in this study was to determine the external (range of motion, ROM) and internal (anterior and posterior load sharing) responses of the spines with one-level and two-level surgeries in both models (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and cervical disc arthroplasty/replacement).

“Results for both one-level and two-level surgeries showed that anterior cervical discectomy and fusion decreases the range of motion at the index level (the surgery segments or levels), while cervical disc arthroplasty/replacement increases motions compared to the intact normal spine.

The ROM, anterior column load (pressure on the front-facing part of the cervical vertebrae), and  posterior column load (pressure on the rear part of the cervical vertebrae) increased at both adjacent levels for the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion while cervical disc arthroplasty/replacement showed a decrease.”

Suspected facet joint disease after surgery

“Although two-level surgeries resulted in increased these biomechanical variables, greater changes to adjacent segment biomechanics in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion may accelerate adjacent segment disease. Decreased ROM and lower load sharing in cervical disc arthroplasty/replacement may limit adjacent segment effects such as accelerated degeneration. Their increased posterior load sharing, however, may need additional attention for patients with suspected facet joint disease.”

So to recap. The benefit of cervical disc arthroplasty/replacement surgery is a better range of motion and less risk of Cervical adjacent segment disease, as compared to traditional cervical spine fusion. However, cervical disc arthroplasty/replacement surgery may accelerate facet joint disease. Let’s again refer to the research above. “Cervical disc replacement may not recreate a normal range of cervical spine motion.” Just having more range of motion is not beneficial if it is creating a hypermobile situation that is causing the development of osteoarthritis and bone spurs.

“The complications after total disc replacement surgery are thought to be caused by inadequate natural movement restoration.”

In research from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Newton-Wellesley Hospital/Harvard Medical School, published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, July 2019, (9) doctors wrote: “The subaxial cervical spine (C3, C4, C5, C6, C7) is the most mobile region of the cervical spine, allowing positioning of the head in a multitude of positions for various activities of daily living. As the discs degenerate, the relationship between alteration in kinematics (natural motion), resting alignment, and symptom development are not clear.”

(Explanatory note: As cervical degenerative disease occurs, it is not clear what causes the development of the person’s pain challenges or what causes one person to have symptoms of cervical spine degenerative disease, and why another person with a similar degenerative disease will have no symptoms.)

Again, what the research suggests is that:

Returning to the research:

The researchers of this study concluded that: “the subaxial cervical intervertebral center of rotation (the place where the vertebra anchors itself to support rotation) and range of motions were segment level- and neck motion-dependent. (Each vertebra had its own unique rotation and motions and fusing or replacing one or multiple segments will impact other non-surgical treated segments). This may help to improve the artificial disc design as well as a surgical technique by which the neck functional motion is restored following the cervical arthroplasty.”

In other words, there is a concern that cervical spine disc replacement surgery does not restore the normal motion of the cervical spine in some patients and that this lack of normal motion can cause post-surgical complications and complaints. Doctors should look for ways to make the neck move more naturally. If they can, the better the chance the surgery, or any treatment will have for achieving better success.

A successful disc replacement surgery, but have remaining symptoms

This is an email we received. It is reflective of many. This email has been edited for clarity.

 “I had cervical disc replacement at  C4-5, C6-7 for severe neck pain and numbness of the left thumb and pointer finger. I have been recovering and doing physical therapy yet my neck is still very stiff and depending on the day or movement pain still radiates down my shoulders to my fingers. I’ve seen several doctors and feel that I’m not getting any help. I have several other symptoms I feel related to my neck. My spinal cord was pinched for several years. At times I have POTS-like symptoms, depending on the position of my neck it changes my sinuses and breathing. Constant headache above the left eye and pressure around the eye, bright lights, and sudden movements cause head pressure. I also get very lightheaded just when standing or driving which is very scary. I feel something isn’t right with my atlas. It worsens as the day goes on or if I don’t lay down periodically.”

Is this reflective of a successful procedure? Let’s look at more research.

About 1 in 50 need the disc replacement removed

A January 2021 study in the Global Spine Journal (10) examined the outcomes of 3,350 people who had elective primary Anterior Cervical Disc Arthroplasty surgery between  2008 – 2017.

Returning to work

Research led by the Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olav’s University Hospital, and the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology investigated the likely outcomes for returning to work following cervical radiculopathy surgery. This research appeared in a February 2023 study in the journal Spine (11)

In this study, approximately half of the patients returned to work within four months, and the positive trend continued throughout the first year, by which 66.9% of the patients had returned to work. By the third year after surgery, the number of people working three years later was about equal to the number of people who were working before the surgery. People who took fewer sick days pre-surgery tended to have better success returning to work after surgery. The doctors here did note: “Although we observed a substantial improvement in disability and pain after surgery in all groups, the rate of return-to-work among the same population was disproportionally lower than expected from the clinical improvement.” Having more trouble returning to work was seen in female patients more so than men.

The number of people who get cervical fusion surgery when the cervical disc replacement fails

A March 2021 paper in the journal Neurospine (12) comes from researchers at the Department of Neurosurgery, the University of Campinas in Brazil, and the Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian. The researchers here reviewed previously published studies on the outcomes and need for revision surgeries at the index (or primary)  level after cervical disc arthroplasty failure. The minimum follow-up for these studies was 5 years.

The long-term revision rate at the index level of failed cervical disc arthroplasty surgery was 3.9%, with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was the most commonly performed procedure to salvage a failed cervical disc arthroplasty. Some patients who required a new surgery after cervical disc arthroplasty failure may require a more extensive salvage procedure and even subsequent surgeries.

Repeat anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or repeat cervical artificial disc group can be performed

A 2021 paper (13) from surgeons at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Taiwan analyzed 3,957 patients who had a disc replacement surgery of which 182 underwent revision/removal of the artificial disc and 3,775 underwent revision or removal of fusion.

Conclusion: Repeat anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or repeat cervical artificial disc group can be performed safely and are associated with optimal 30-day outcomes, comparable to those of index procedures. However, patients undergoing revision anterior cervical discectomy and fusion may be slightly more likely to have complications than those undergoing revision cervical artificial disc group.

The hybrid fusion disc replacement surgery option for patients who are not good candidates for disc replacement

An October 2021 study in the Global Spine Journal (14) comes from The Spine Hospital, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center doctors. Here they write: “Although cervical disc arthroplasty has become a well-established and effective treatment for symptomatic cervical degeneration, many patients with the multilevel disease are not good candidates for cervical disc arthroplasty at all levels. For such patients, a hybrid surgery-a combination of adjacent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty-may be more appropriate.” The researchers noted that the hybrid surgery of adjacent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty is somewhat novel and there is not much by way of patient outcomes following the procedure. In this paper questions about the short-term morbidity profile of the hybrid surgery, differences in operative duration, length of hospital stay, and readmission and reoperation rates were gathered and compared to a 2-level ACDF alone, patient group.

In this study, 390 patients undergoing hybrid surgery were followed.

If you can make the neck move more naturally, the better the chance treatment will have in achieving success.

One of the controversial issues surrounding cervical neck surgery is the movement and range of motion, or lack thereof, of the cervical spine following neck surgery. Even in artificial disc surgery, there is a question as to how much, natural movement can be restored. In the above research and the research below, a key benefit is the improved range of motion with a disc replacement.

Cervical disc replacement may not recreate the normal range of cervical spine motion. This may cause problems down the road.

As we will see in the research below, one of the given benefits discussed with surgical candidates for cervical disc replacement is a better range of motion in the neck compared to the traditional fusion. We will explore just how much better it is or is not in the surgical studies we are presenting here.

One of the problems that patients seek to solve with a cervical disc replacement is the abnormal motion that they are already suffering from in their neck which is causing them many challenges. They have hope that surgery will remedy this problem. For some people, this may be a false hope.

Significant posterior bone spur at C6 vertebra shortly after a C5-C6 disc replacement surgery

The caption of the below image reads Significant posterior bone spur at C6 vertebra shortly after a C5-C6 disc replacement surgery. Unfortunately for this patient, the bone spur formed because of instability after the disc replacement. This bone spur caused impingement of the anterior spinal cord and blocked CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid, causing the need for a spinal fusion.

Anterior bone boss following cervical disc replacement is characteristic of increased cervical lordosis

A July 2022 paper in the journal World Neurosurgery (15) discusses how anterior bone boss following cervical disc replacement is characteristic of increased cervical lordosis (excessive curvature in the neck-forward head type posture). Here is what this team of neurosurgeons wrote:

“Although cervical disc arthroplasty has reportedly been associated with similarly low incidences of complications to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, the phenomenon of anterior bone loss is unique to cervical disc arthroplasty and has only recently gained notice.”

In investigating the anterior bone loss phenomenon, these researchers looked at patients who received cervical disc arthroplasty for herniated disc or spondylosis.

Heterotopic ossification is a common complication

Heterotopic ossification is abnormal bone growth that can occur weeks after surgery. The bone grows within the cervical muscles and soft tissues including the cervical spine ligaments.

A November 2021 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (16) explains the concerns of some doctors: “Heterotopic ossification is a common complication after cervical disc replacement. Biomechanical factors including endplate coverage and intervertebral disc height change may be related to Heterotopic ossification formation. However, there is a dearth of quantitative analysis for endplate coverage, intervertebral height change, and their combined effects on Heterotopic ossification.”

What the researchers are suggesting is that the artificial disc did not provide ample coverage of the cervical vertebrae endplates. This possible degenerative wear condition may be causing changes to the disc height and instability. Where there is instability, there is typically bone overgrowth.

Here is what the researchers discussed: “Patients who underwent single-level or two-level cervical disc replacement with Prestige-LP ( a specific artificial disc were retrospectively (post-surgery) reviewed.

An October 2021 paper comes to us from the Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine. It was published in the journal Neurosurgery clinics of North America. (17) This paper offers suggestions on the type of patients cervical artificial disc replacement may be most successful for.  Here is what the authors wrote:

Heterotopic ossification- the growth of bone in the tendons, muscles, and soft tissue after cervical disc replacement

Heterotopic ossification is the unnatural formation of bone in the tendons, muscles, and other soft tissue. Speculation in the medical community is that the acquired form of heterotopic ossification can occur when a muscle is injured. Muscle is injured during surgery. Let’s look at the research:

Doctors wrote in the journal Medicine – (18)

What causes this?

Doctors at the Spine Institute of Louisiana wrote in a June 2018 study in the International Journal of Spine Surgery (19) that it is difficult to understand why Heterotopic ossification happens.

We would like to point out that the possible causation is adjacent-level degeneration and possible problems with the cervical neck sagittal alignment. The cervical spine’s natural alignment or curve.

What are we seeing in this image?

Below we see an image of a neck with a series of disc replacements. As we note in the image caption: Artificial joint replacement parts, in the case of this article, artificial discs, are stiff and rigid. In the supportive research noted in this image, these stiff and rigid parts are up to 500 times stronger than osteoarthritic cartilage. While the disc replacement is much stronger than the remaining natural structures, this imbalance can cause a structural breakdown in the neck. Maybe not enough to warrant a revision surgery, but a significant impact on neck pain and structure is just the same.

The imbalance of artificial components and surviving elements in the neck can cause daily joint forces to be transmitted to these weaker areas of the periarticular (the soft tissue surrounding the cervical spine) structures. This can cause the accelerated breakdown of this soft tissue and lead to neck pain and neck instability.

Below we see an image of a neck with a series of disc replacements. As we note in the image caption: Artificial joint replacement parts, of in the case of this article, artificial discs, are stiff and rigid. In the supportive research noted in this image, these stiff and rigid parts are up to 500 times stronger than osteoarthritic cartilage. While the disc replacement is much stronger than the remaining natural structures, this imbalance can cause structural breakdown in the neck. Maybe not enough to warrant a revision surgery, but a significant impact to neck pain and structure just the same.

Before we go further, let’s understand again that there are many people who get great benefits from cervical artificial disc replacement surgery. There are a lot of people who do well with the “hybrid” surgery of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion plus cervical artificial disc replacement surgery when multiple areas of the cervical spine are causing them pain. The people who have successful surgery are, however, not typically the patients that we see in our office. But we do see a lot post-surgery:

Generally, people who have had a successful cervical artificial disc replacement surgery will report problem situations like this:

Or,

A weakness in their ability to “hold their head up.”

The reason that these people come to our office is that they are exploring regenerative medicine treatments that may help them avoid further surgery by strengthening their cervical spine by way of addressing cervical ligament damage and weakness. We will discuss this below. They may also be in our office looking for ways to strengthen their cervical spine even after successful surgery but they feel something is not right. Some of these patients, recognize a weakness in their ability to “hold their head up.”

In this video, Ross Hauser explains how even after disc replacement surgery, cervical spine instability is not only present but has been made worse.

Again, let’s point out that many people get significant benefits from cervical disc replacement. These are the people we do not see in our office. We see the people who had disc replacement and continued or worsening problems.

A summary transcript and explanatory notes are below the video.

I’m seeing a lot more disc replacement patients with continued neck problems

The belief is that disc replacement can provide stability as well as a more natural motion. For some people, this did not work out.

At 1:10 of the video, Dr. Hauser shows on a Digital Motion X-Ray (DMX) how one patient continued to suffer from cervical spine instability 

What is Dr. Hauser demonstrating with the tongue depressor?

In the video, (1:40) the patient with the disc replacement is moving their head forward. The DMX image is stopped so the cervical spine instability can be demonstrated.

DMX image of what Dr. Hauser is showing with the tongue depressor: (Note the bottom vertebrae, that is where the disc replacement is)

The person in this DMX image did not have the disc replacement that long ago. So the cervical spine instability see at C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 has probably been there for some time. This is why disc replacement at C6 did not help their neck problems at C2-C5

Neck pain after C5-C6 disc replacement surgery
An introductory video discussion with Ross Hauser, MD

In this video, Ross Hauser, MD, explains pain after disc replacement surgery. These are the learning points:

Surgeons ask: “Are Controversial Issues in Cervical Total Disc Replacement Resolved or Unresolved?”

In the February 2018 issue of the Asian Spine Journal, (20) Neurologists in Korea published these findings in their paper: Are Controversial Issues in Cervical Total Disc Replacement Resolved or Unresolved?: A Review of Literature and Recent Updates.

Here are the summary findings and learning points:

Surgery for Cervical Discogenic Syndrome – only as last resort?

Let’s start here with a 1995 paper (21) and bring the research currently to 2022. In 1995 the suggestion of sending people to surgery for cervical disc causing pain or cervical discogenic syndrome was somewhat controversial. In this 1995 paper Dr. Bruce S. Senter an orthopedic surgeon wrote: “In patients with persistent pain of the neck, head, shoulder, and periscapular area, the diagnosis of cervical discogenic syndrome should be considered. The intervertebral disc can be a source of persistent pain and the severity of the symptoms should dictate the treatment. Surgical intervention should only be considered as a last resort in someone with significant pain who has failed prolonged conservative therapy. The success of the surgical treatment of this entity is most closely linked to adequate patient selection and rigorous patient preparation.”

In the medical publication STAT PEARLS (22) housed at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine a 2022 update on treatment and patient selection is given with similarities in the message.

“There are many approaches to the management of cervical discogenic pain syndrome, which are dependent on the cause, severity, and clinical presentation. The initial approach is always aggressive nonsurgical treatment. This includes the use of NSAIDs, partial rest, proper posture, and body mechanics, along with home-based exercise programs. Spontaneous recovery is usually common within the first few weeks. Physical therapy should be focused on maintaining proper posture and body ergonomics. . . In some cases, patients with cervical discogenic pain syndrome may require cervical epidural injections or nerve root blocks to facilitate their participation in physical therapy. These interventions should be used as an adjunct to therapy and are not usually effective alone.

Patients who do not respond to appropriate conservative therapies and have persistent radicular pain, progressive neurologic deficits, motor weakness, or signs of cord compression may consider surgical intervention. Patients with discogenic neck pain can potentially benefit from anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery.”

Complications in neck surgery.

It is likely that you are like many people. You want someone experienced in the challenges you are facing to help you. This would be especially true in choosing a surgeon. Many people ask their surgeon, “how many of these surgeries have you done?” It is human nature to feel better when the surgeon reports more rather than less.

A February 2021 study published in Surgical Neurology International (23) examined the experience of cervical spine surgery as being a factor in reduced complication rates. What the study found was the experience of the surgeon did not matter. This study is here in this article not to question the surgeon’s experience, but because it gives the most recent list of complications and rates. The complications were examined for anterior cervical discectomy without fusion, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and anterior cervical disc arthroplasty and noted as:

  1. Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties).
  2. Dysphonia (difficulty speaking)
  3. Unintended durotomy (puncture of dura matter).
  4. Hyposthenia (extreme neck weakness)
  5. Hypoesthesia (Strange sensations to the sense of touch, numbness)
  6. Hematoma
  7. Horner’s syndrome (constriction of the pupil caused by injury to the facial nerves)

A February 2023 paper in the journal Spine (24) led by researchers at the Loma Linda University Medical Center compared the pre-surgery problems of patients with complications and reoperation rates after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA), and posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) in patients being treated with cervical radiculopathy. The study assessed outcomes in 507 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), 507 underwent cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA), and 507 underwent posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF).

The neck just decided to fuse itself following a disc replacement

Spontaneous fusion is considered a somewhat rare phenomenon following a cervical disc replacement. But it happens. The point that we stress in our patients is that the neck is always trying to stabilize itself. One way it does this is by the formation of bone spurs. Here in this patient, a patient who had cervical disc replacement, his neck decided that the disc replacement was not providing enough stability so the neck fused over it.

Let’s take a look at a case history presented in June 2020 in the Journal of Pain Research (25) by the attending physicians of a patient whose neck decided to fuse itself.

A 63-year-old man presented to the case authors with a 6-month history of progressive neck pain and developed left C-7 radiculopathy 4 years ago. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed disc herniation at the C6–C7 levels resulting in compression of the left C-7 nerve root.

The patient underwent cervical disc replacement at the C6–C7 levels. He failed to follow up regularly as recommended postoperatively because he was completely free from the pain in his neck and left upper limb.

Four years later, he was readmitted with a 2-month history of occasional neck stiffness. Plain radiographs indicated complete radiographic fusion of the C6–C7 levels with trabecular bone bridging surrounding the cervical disc prosthesis, and dynamic imaging showed no motion.

He was seen at regular follow-up visits for up to 60 months without special treatment, as his symptoms of neck stiffness were minor and his symptom has not worsened since then.

Here again, we have a successful cervical disc replacement. The patient developed fusion and lost range of motion but had no significant pain. His body decided to just fuse itself and save him from another procedure.

In this video, Danielle R. Steilen-Matias, MMS, PA-C explains the challenges of adjacent segment disease

Summary transcript

A case presented

Cervical spinal alignment and curvature after disc replacement surgery

Let’s point out again that people have good success with cervical disc replacement. In some instances, documented in the studies we will cite below, the disc replacement helped restore, in part, the natural alignment of the neck. In others, the artificial disc caused an unnatural curve and alignment in the neck that caused complications.

This is the progression of cervical neck instability. The neck has a natural “backward C” shape. Cervical instability causes a normal lordotic curve to end up as an “S” or “Snake” curve, or cervical dysstructure.

The Horrific Progression of Neck Degeneration with Unresolved Cervical Instability

While people have good success with cervical disc replacement, in some instances, documented in the studies we will cite in this article, the disc replacement helped restore, in part, the natural alignment of the neck. In others, the artificial disc caused an unnatural curve and alignment in the neck that caused complications. This image helps document the type of changes that can occur in the cervical spine.

In the European Spine Journal (26), medical university researchers in Italy researchers examined alignment at the cervical spine in patients following cervical disc replacement surgery.

Here is what they wrote:

“The alignment at the cervical spine has been considered a determinant of degeneration at the adjacent disc, but this issue in cervical disc replacement surgery is poorly explored and discussed in this patient population. The aim of this systematic review is to compare anterior cervical fusion and total disc replacement in terms of preservation of the overall cervical alignment and complications.”

“In most of the retrieved studies, a tendency towards a more postoperative kyphotic alignment in total disc replacement was reported. The reported mean (average) complication rate was 12.5 % (0% in some research up to 66.2 % in other research). Complications associated with cervical prosthesis included heterotopic ossification, device migration, mechanical instability, failure, implant removal, operations, and revision.

“Even though cervical disc arthroplasty (replacement) leads to similar outcomes compared to arthrodesis (fusion) in the middle-term follow-up, no evidence of the superiority of cervical total disc replacement is available up to date. We understand that the overall cervical alignment after total disc replacement tends towards the loss of lordosis, but only longer follow-up can determine its influence on the clinical results.”

The importance of the cervical spine curve in alleviating pain

Surgical treatments for Cervical Instability – the disc may not be the problem causing pain, loss of cervical curvature, and loss or range of motion

In our practice, we see many patients, not only with neck pain and radiating pain into the back, shoulders, arms, and hands but also with a myriad of symptoms related to cervical neck problems that doctors feel an artificial disc may help remedy, those related to degenerative cervical disc disease including problems of pinched nerves.

cervical degenerative ligament disease

When spinal ligaments are exposed to continued compression or stress, they “Creep.” Creep is a medical condition that results from the deformity or elongation of the ligaments that hold the cervical spinal vertebrae in place. This is cervical neck instability.

CREEP – cervical degenerative ligament disease – why neck surgery fails

Some of the most debilitating conditions attributed to problems in the neck are those due to cervical instability caused by ligament laxity. What does this mean? It means that surgery may not address the problems you are experiencing in your neck.

When spinal ligaments are exposed to continued compression or stress, they “Creep.” Creep is a medical condition that results from the deformity or elongation of the ligaments that hold the cervical spinal vertebrae in place. This is cervical spine instability.

Range of motion issues are in the ligaments

A study came out of the University of Waterloo in Canada and was published in the November 2017 edition of the Spine Journal. (27) Briefly here was the problem and the goal of the study:

Loose ligaments are not normal

Patients suffer from big problems caused by little damage to the ligaments

Patients suffer because Ligament laxity is a mystery

Patients suffer because cervical ligament laxity is a mystery

In this video, a demonstration of treatment is given

Prolotherapy is referred to as a regenerative injection technique (RIT) because it is based on the premise that the regenerative healing process can rebuild and repair damaged soft tissue structures. It is a simple injection treatment that addresses very complex issues.

This video jumps to 1:05 where the actual treatment begins.

This patient is having C1-C2 areas treated. Ross Hauser, MD, is giving the injections.

Treating cervical ligaments – published research from Caring Medical

In 2014 headed by Danielle R. Steilen-Matias, PA-C, our Caring Medical team published these findings in The Open Orthopaedics Journal. (28)

The capsular ligaments (the ligaments of the joint capsule) are the main stabilizing structures of the facet joints in the cervical spine and have been implicated as a major source of chronic neck pain. Such pain often reflects a state of instability in the cervical spine and is a symptom common to a number of conditions such as disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, whiplash injury, whiplash-associated disorder, post-concussion syndrome, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and Barré-Liéou syndrome.

When the capsular ligaments are injured, they become elongated and exhibit laxity, which causes excessive movement of the cervical vertebrae.

Therefore, we propose that in many cases of chronic neck pain, the cause may be underlying joint instability due to capsular ligament laxity. Furthermore, we contend that the use of comprehensive Prolotherapy appears to be an effective treatment for chronic neck pain and cervical instability, especially when due to ligament laxity. The technique is safe and relatively non-invasive as well as efficacious in relieving chronic neck pain and its associated symptoms.

Stabilizing the unstable neck – the case for treating ligaments with Prolotherapy

Back to our 2014 research headed by Danielle R. Steilen-Matias, PA-C, published in The Open Orthopaedics Journal. Here we outline that the problems of the cervical neck are not always problems of degenerative disc disease but problems of degenerative ligament disease. This explains why traditional treatments focused on the discs will not be successful in the long term.

The use of conventional modalities for chronic neck pain remains debatable, primarily because most treatments have had limited success. We conducted a review of the literature published up to December 2013 on the diagnostic and treatment modalities of disorders related to chronic neck pain and concluded that, despite providing temporary relief of symptoms, these treatments do not address the specific problems of healing and are not likely to offer long-term cures.

The objectives of this study are to provide an overview of chronic neck pain as it relates to cervical instability, to describe the anatomical features of the cervical spine and the impact of capsular ligament laxity, to discuss the disorders causing chronic neck pain and their current treatments, and lastly, to present Prolotherapy as a viable treatment option that heals injured ligaments, restores stability to the spine, and resolves chronic neck pain.

There are a number of treatment modalities for the management of chronic neck pain and cervical instability, including injection therapy, nerve blocks, mobilization, manipulation, alternative medicine, behavioral therapy, fusion, and pharmacologic agents such as NSAIDs and opiates. However, these treatments do not address stabilizing the cervical spine or healing ligament injuries, and thus, do not offer long-term curative options. In fact, cortisone injections are known to inhabit, rather than promote, healing.

Research on 21 patients with cervical instability and chronic neck pain

In our research published in the European Journal of Preventive Medicine, we presented the following findings:

We concluded that statistically significant reductions in pain and functionality, indicate the safety and viability of Prolotherapy for cervical spine instability. (29)

Summary and contact us. Can we help you? How do I know if I’m a good candidate?

Please see related articles:

We hope you found this article informative and that it helped answer many of the questions you may have surrounding your neck pain. Just like you, we want to make sure you are a good fit for our clinic prior to accepting your case. While our mission is to help as many people with chronic pain as we can, sadly, we cannot accept all cases. We have a multi-step process so our team can really get to know you and your case to ensure that it sounds like you are a good fit for the unique testing and treatments that we offer here.

Please visit the Hauser Neck Center Patient Candidate Form

References

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This article was updated February 1, 2023

 

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