Cervical Total Disc Replacement: Complications and Complication Avoidance

Richard L Price; Domagoj Coric; Wilson Z Ray

doi:10.1016/j.nec.2021.05.006

Cervical Total Disc Replacement: Complications and Complication Avoidance

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2021 Oct;32(4):473-481. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2021.05.006.

Authors

Richard L Price¹, Domagoj Coric², Wilson Z Ray³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8057, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
² Carolinas Neurosurgical and Spine Associates, 225 Baldwin Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA.
³ Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8057, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: RayZ@wustl.edu.

PMID: 34538473
DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2021.05.006

Abstract

Cervical total disc replacement (CTDR) has gained popularity over the last 2 decades. It is a motion-preserving option to ACDF and is becoming more popular with patients and surgeons alike. Understanding complications that are unique to CTDR is crucial to performing successful, durable surgery. Careful patient selection and meticulous surgical technique are key to reducing complications associated with the surgery. Patient's should be followed closely after surgery with routine flexion/extension x-rays for early detection of any complications that may occur. Most complications can be observed with close follow-up. However, it is incumbent on the surgeon to recognize when revision surgery is necessary.

Keywords: Complications; Focal device kyphosis; Heterotopic ossification; Osteolysis; Subsidence.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
Diskectomy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* / surgery
Spinal Fusion*
Total Disc Replacement* / adverse effects
Treatment Outcome