An Educational Guide to Disc Arthroplasty

Orthopedic surgeries have improved a lot in the last some decades, and that has made people rely on them. With the advancement in medical technology, orthopaedic implants and techniques have also improved, and that has helped improve the success rate of orthopedic surgeries.

This field has become so advanced that there are solutions to orthopedic problems that were considered untreatable decades ago. In this post, we are going to discuss one such surgical procedure that is performed to fix spinal injuries or other conditions affecting the intervertebral discs.

The surgical procedure that we are going to talk about is disc arthroplasty. Let us talk about the details of this surgical procedure.

Disc Arthroplasty – An Overview

Arthroplasty is a term that defines the cutting or removal of a damaged/diseased joint and replacing it with an artificial implant. Disc arthroplasty is also the same procedure where the damaged intervertebral disc is removed using appropriate tools and instruments.

Our spine is made up of several small bones known as vertebrae where, between each vertebra, there is an intervertebral disc. The function of these discs is to maintain the mobility of the spine and absorb the shock caused due to impacts.

As we age, the degradation of spinal discs is a natural process and they become prone to damage more easily. Besides this, as the natural degradation progresses, discs become weak, and cracks may occur on the outer layer. As the cracks widen up, the inner material of the disc protrudes out. In such cases, the damaged disc is required to be removed and replaced with an artificial implant. This is where disc arthroplasty is required.

Disc Arthroplasty – The Procedure

Disc arthroplasty is a surgical procedure that is performed under anesthesia. During the surgery, the patient remains asleep and does not feel any pain. This surgery is carried out by an experienced orthopedic surgeon with having specialization in performing spinal surgeries. Depending upon the location and the severity, assistance from surgeons of other specialties like vascular surgeons may also be required.

After cleaning the required area, the surgeon will make an incision to expose the damaged disc. Once the incision is made, the surgeon will gently move the soft tissues aside to clear any obstructions while removing the disc. The damaged disc is removed with the help of dedicated orthopedic instruments and tools.

After clearing the area by removing the damaged spinal disc and bone, the surgeon will gently place an artificial disc made of medical-grade metal alloy. The soft tissue structures are then brought back to their respective places and the incision is closed. To prevent exposure to the external environment, dressing is applied to the incision.

Disc Arthroplasty – The Recovery

The recovery after surgery depends upon the health of the patient and the severity of the condition. Besides this, the length of the hospital stay will also be decided by the above-mentioned factors along with the operated location of the spine.

For quick and improved recovery, it is important to follow all the instructions shared by the surgeon.
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