The rationale for cervical disc arthroplasty

Although the concepts of total disc arthroplasty were first described in 1966, only recently has the spine community considered its routine use in the cervical spine. The tenets of motion preservation have been pervasive in orthopaedic surgery and, for this reason, many researchers have advocated for this approach in the treatment of spinal disorders. Anterior cervical fusions have led to excellent clinical results; however, many patients require further reoperations and may have long-term deterioration of their symptoms. The preliminary data from randomized controlled trials involving both cervical spine total disc arthroplasty and fusion cohorts have been encouraging in establishing its safety, efficacy, and potential avoidance of adverse events in the treatment of radiculopathy and/or myelopathy. This manuscript will review the rationale behind the use of a cervical disc prosthesis.