Artificial Disc May Relieve Neck, Arm Pain Metal-on-Metal Disc May Relieve Degenerative Cervical Disc Disease

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Artificial Disc May Relieve Neck, Arm Pain

Metal-on-Metal Disc May Relieve Degenerative Cervical Disc Disease

.... A new type of artificial implant may help relieve the neck

and arm pain caused by degenerative cervical disc disease and allow free

movement of the neck... Researchers say more than half of people over 40

have cervical disc disease,

which is caused by degenerative changes in the bones of the upper neck. The

disease leads to symptoms such as neck pain, pain that radiates down the

arm,

and numbness. This persistent pain also can cause sleeping problems.

The most common from of surgical treatment for the symptoms caused by

degenerative cervical disc disease is cervical fusion, which clears away

injured or

degenerative disc. During this procedure, bone from the hip is grafted onto

the

area and left to heal with a covered rigid plate. This ultimately limits

movement in the neck. ...

In the study, researchers evaluated the mechanical stability of the Prestige

Artificial Cervical Disc. The device consists of two stainless steel parts

that are surgically attached with screws to adjacent spinal bones in the

neck ... found it was able to

withstand extreme forces without becoming displaced.

" The disc is strong enough to withstand sudden movement and support the

head, " says Nockels. " Patients are able to move their head up and down, and

from

side to side. "

In addition, researchers say that several artificial cervical disc

recipients

involved in clinical trials of the device have been involved in serious

motor

vehicle accidents, and X-rays of these patients showed the device continued

to function normally. ...

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