spinal cord compression after placement of a cervical artificial disc at the operated level

What is it about?

This article is the first, as far as we know, to report that spinal cord compression can recur after decompression and placement of an artificial disc in the cervical spine.

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Why is it important?

Prior to artificial cervical discs, an anterior cervical decompression as accompanied by a fusion. Once the fusion occurs, the arthritic process stops, and therefore the process that contributed to the cord compression is halted as well. Furthermore, with modern instrumentation, MRI is very good at visualizing the spinal cord and can be used to see if there is spinal cord compression after a fusion. Artificial discs create significant artifact and usually it is difficult or impossible to adequately visualize the spinal cord at the level where the disc has been placed. Furthermore, there may be an assumption that the arthritic process is halted with placement of an artificial disc. This study shows that the arthritis can progress even with placement of an artificial disc. And, if spinal cord compression is suspected from symptoms, An MRI that doesn't show the spinal cord at the level of the artificial disc in not adequate to rule out cord compression. a myelogram is needed to visualize that area.