Osteoarthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoarthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Cervical total disc replacement, part I: rationale, biomechanics, and implant types.

Durbhakula MM, Ghiselli G

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

Cervical total disc replacement (TDR) is an attractive alternate to arthrodesis for management of disc degeneration and herniation in the cervical spine. Theoretic advantages of TDR include preservation of normal motion and biomechanics in the cervical spine and reduction of adjacent-segment degeneration. Other potential advantages include faster return to normal activity and elimination of the need for bone graft and associated donor site morbidity. This article introduces the rationale and various implant types available for cervical TDR. Part 2 of this series reviews the results and complications of specific implant designs.

Published 13 June 2005 in Orthop Clin North Am, 36(3): 349-54.
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