Am I A Candidate For Mobi-C Disc Replacement?

Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

 

mobi-c spine surgery

Bulging and herniated discs are oftentimes treated with conservative methods, but if the pain remains, sometimes surgery is necessary. One of the most common surgeries to alleviate pain from a degenerative disc is a cervical discectomy and fusion, and while the operation has a great track record of success, most people experience some loss in mobility after the operation.

However, if a patient wants to maintain as much spinal mobility as possible, they can ask their doctor if they are a candidate form Mobi-C artificial disc surgery. This is a newer surgery that involves inserting a more flexible disc into the spinal column during the single or two-level cervical disc replacement. Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for the Mobi-C disc replacement. Today, we share the characteristics of the ideal candidate for Mobi-C disc replacement.

Mobi-C and Me

If you answer yes to all of the following questions, you may be a candidate for Mobi-C artificial disc replacement surgery:

Are you Between the Ages of 21-67?

The spine needs to be fully matured, so a person typically needs to be at least 21 years old, but they need to be young enough that they can fully recover from the operation.

Are you Experiencing Arm or Neck Weakness or Discomfort with or without Pain?

Weakness suggests that the damaged disc is interfering with nerves in the surrounding area. This may or not be accompanied by pain.

Have you Tried at Least 6-8 Weeks of Conservative Treatment?

Mobi-C is a great resource, but surgery should be viewed as the last option. Your doctor will want to see how your spine responds to conservative treatment before jumping to surgery. You may not need to try six full weeks of non-operative treatment if your symptoms get progressively or significantly worse, but doctors usually like to try a few different conservative options before replacing the discs.

Does Imaging Reveal any of the Following?

A herniated nucleus pulposus (inner disc pressing through the outer disc), degeneration of the spine from excessive wear and tear, bone spur development on the vertebrae or significant loss of disc height compared to other spinal columns.

If you said yes to most or all of these questions, you may be a candidate for Mobi-C spinal replacement. Talk to a spinal specialist today to learn more.

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