Disc replacement surgery involves removing a diseased disc and replacing it with an artificial disc made of medical-grade metal or a combination of medical-grade metal and plastic. It is done when the space between the vertebrae has become too narrow and part of the vertebrae or disc is pressing on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, causing pain, numbness or weakness. When these symptoms do not respond to nonsurgical types of treatment, disc replacement surgery may be recommended.

Using an artificial disc to replace your natural disc is a new type of treatment that has recently been approved by the FDA. In traditional disc replacement surgery, the diseased disc is removed and the vertebrae above and below the disc may be fused together. Disc replacement surgery may have the advantage of allowing more movement and creating less stress on the remaining vertebrae than traditional spinal fusion surgery on the neck or back.

The reasons for spinal disc replacement surgery depend on the area of the spine in which the diseased disc is located, cervical or lumbar.

In the neck, loss of space between the cervical vertebrae from cervical disc degeneration, or wear and tear, is common. Cervical discs begin to collapse and bulge with age; this happens to most people by age 60. Doctors don't know why some people have more symptoms from cervical disc degeneration than others.

Symptoms may include:

• neck pain
• neck stiffness
• headache
• pain that travels down into the shoulders or arms
• weakness in the shoulders, arms, hands or legs
• "pins and needles" or numbness in the arms

Not everyone with back pain is a good candidate for a lumbar disc replacement surgery. A doctor will perform a number of tests to determine if it's the right procedure for each patient.

Lumbar disc replacement surgery might be recommended if:

1. The source of back pain mostly comes from only one or two discs in the spine.
2. There is no significant joint disease or compression on the nerves.
3. The patient is not excessively overweight.
4. The patient has not previously had spinal surgery.
5. The patient does not have scoliosis or another spinal deformity.

Other factors also will be considered in the doctor's determination of whether a lumbar disc replacement surgery, a lumbar fusion surgery or another course of action is best.

Disc replacement is a fairly new type of surgical spine surgery with little information on possible long-term risks, however they may be greater than traditional spine surgery as greater access to the surgical area is required than a standard minimally invasive procedure. Patients should discuss the risks and benefits of disc replacement surgery compared with more traditional types of spine surgery with the surgeon.

Some potential risks of spine surgery include:

There may be other risks, depending on the specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with the surgeon before the procedure.