Before artificial discs were approved for use, most often a patient would get an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). In this fusion surgery, the surgeon removes the unhealthy disc. The empty disc space is filled with a bone spacer or plastic implant. The implant helps match the disc height to the levels above and below. Restoring the disc height can help remove pressure on the nerves and/or spinal cord. Then, a metal plate with screws is placed on the front of the neck. The plate helps keep the spacer in place and stop movement at the level or levels it spans. This helps new bone grow between the vertebrae (fusion).
However,studies have shown cervical disc replacement to have benefits over fusion. 1,2
In a surgery with the Mobi-C Cervical Disc, the unhealthy disc is removed, but instead of a bone spacer or plastic implant along with a plate and screws, a Mobi-C is implanted into the disc space. Where a fusion procedure is intended to eliminate motion at the surgery levels, the goal of a surgery with Mobi-C is to allow motion at those levels.
Both fusion and Mobi-C artificial disc surgery:
- Replace the damaged disc.
- Try to match a healthy disc height to help un-trap any nerves.
Unlike fusion the Mobi-C implant is:
- Designed to maintain neck movement and adapt to the motion in your spine.
Mobi-C Cervical Disc Compared to Fusion
Maintaining neck motion can result in reduced adjacent level disease and reduced reoperation rates.1,2