Frequently Asked Questions

What type of symptoms would a patient have to have for you to consider them as a candidate for the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc?

	Dr. Richard Fessler Chicago, IL The ideal patient would have pain shooting into their arms and hands in a pattern which matched a disc problem at the correct level of the neck. Many would have neck pain along with this. Some patients would also have weakness in arm or hand muscles or numbness or tingling in their arm or hands.
	Dr. Kenneth Burkus Columbus, GA Usually they're complaining about both neck pain, intra-scapular pain (between the shoulder blades) and then arm pain.
	Dr. Rick Sasso Indianapolis, IN Significant arm pain and neck pain that leads to a cervical disc herniation. Usually also associated with numbness and tingling that radiates down into the arm and hands and also may be associated with weakness in the arms.
	Dr. Todd Bonvallet Chattanooga, TN Typical symptoms for patients that would be candidates for the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc would be those with intractable neck pain and/or arm pain with associated functional deficits such as a neurologic deficit or intractable pain. Patients with progressive loss of neurologic function would be surgical candidates, as well. These include patients with herniated discs or severe cervical disc disease such as bone spurs pushing on the cord and/or the nerve. Usually these symptoms need to be persistent for greater than 6 months if the patient isn't having progressive loss of function or intractable pain unabated with conservative measures.
	Dr. Rebecca Stachniak Plano, TX Cervicobrachial pain — or pain relating to the arm and the neck.
	Dr. Vincent Traynelis Iowa City, IA Ideal patients have intractable arm pain which has not responded to non-operative therapy. Some patients may also have weakness, numbness and/or tingling.
	Dr. Michael Neuwirth New York, NY Typically, the same patients would be eligible for a PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc as for an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Specifically, patients presenting with neck pain or radicular pain (pain that radiates down into the arm) that is often associated with a specific neurologic deficit such as numbness, weakness or reflex change in the distribution of the nerve are a candidate. These patients would have all failed appropriate non-operative treatment.
	Dr. Paul Broadstone Chattanooga, TN The two main conditions include upper extremity symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling or weakness caused by nerve root compression or irritation at the cervical spine level (radiculopathy), or neck and shoulder pain that can be attributed to cervical disk disease
	Dr. Jeffrey Carlson Newport News, VA Patients with nerve pain in the arm and/or neck would be considered for disc replacement.
	Dr. Brett Taylor St. Louis, MO Patients who have cervical radiculopathy or arm pain that has failed to improve with non-operative treatment for 6-8 weeks are candidates for cervical disc replacement. In our practice, patients have had significant improvement in cervical radiculopathy after the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc replacement. In addition, we have seen significant improvement in neck pain. However, neck pain is not the primary indication for disc arthroplasty.
	Dr. Praveen Mummaneni San Francisco, CA Pain radiating from the neck to the arm, with or without arm weakness.
	Dr. Robert Pashman Los Angeles, CA A patient who presents with a single-level cervical disc herniation at C3, C4, C5, C6 or C7, with associated arm pain, tingling or numbness, and has failed to respond to conservative therapy, is a candidate for artificial disc replacement.

The commentary above recounts the experiences of these physicians. Medtronic invited them to share their stories candidly. Keep in mind that results vary; not every patient's response is the same. The degree of motion maintained may vary with each individual patient. Talk with your doctor to learn more about any products that are mentioned above.

It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your doctor's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.