Surgery for herniated disks

For those who suffer from herniated disks, relief may be near. Surgeons at the UW Hospital and Clinics Spine Center recently performed a revolutionary procedure during which they implanted an artificial cervical disk into a 22-year-old’s spine to alleviate a herniated disk. The procedure is believed to be the first of its kind in Wisconsin.

Discs are gel-like cushions that act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in the spine. Herniation — resulting from disc degeneration, injury or heavy lifting — can occur when part of the disc is pushed out of place and presses on nerve endings. In the past, surgeons have treated this condition by removing an impingement on the spinal cord or nerve root, implanting a metal plate and welding the vertebrae together. This procedure, however, leaves patients with a long recovery time and limited range of motion.

The new surgery performed at the UW uses the PRESTIGE Artificial Cervical Disc System designed to closely match the function of a normal spinal disc space and provide patients with more neck movement following surgery.