Insurance carriers across the country are covering artificial disc replacement surgery for the cervical spine with greater frequency these days. The alternative to the more common spinal fusion is gaining ground–200,000 Americans with spinal disorders now have potential access to artificial disc surgery through their insurers.

Studies show that artificial cervical disc patients have a higher rate of neurological success as measured by muscle tone, strength, sensation, as well as responsiveness of reflexes as compared to those who’ve had spinal fusion. Studies also demonstrate that at a two-year follow-up exam, the overall success rate for the artificial disc group is 79.3% compared to the fusion group at 67.8%. These reasons are compelling enough for potential candidates to consider the option of an artificial disc.

Now 200,000 Americans with spinal disorders have potential access through insurers such as Aetna, various BlueCross BlueShield plans and Broadspire to artificial disc surgery instead of the conventional cervical spinal fusion surgery. Other insurance carriers may approve the innovative procedure on a case-by-case basis. (A complete list of insurance companies with positive coverage decisions for the cervical artificial disc as of April 2009 can be found on the website listed below.)

Currently, the most common surgical treatment for patients with degenerative discs in the cervical spine is spinal fusion. In this procedure, a surgeon removes the damaged disc, then implants a bone graft and metal plate to fuse the vertebrae together. Challenges of spinal fusion include longer recovery time, pain management and the possibility of adjacent-level surgery in the future.

During artificial disc replacement surgery, the damaged disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc, a stainless-steel device with a ball-in-trough design intended to allow for replication of normal motion. The disc stays in place with bone screws. The hospital stay for this procedure is approximately one to two days. Patients can begin rehabilitation and return to daily activities soon after surgery. In fact, one study demonstrated that patients receiving the cervical disc returned to work in 45 days, 16 days earlier than the fusion patients.

For details on the cervical artificial disc, call: 1-800-446-1234 or visit http://www.cinn.org.

Articles you might like:

• Anti-Aging Skin Products - Don't Choose to Look Your Actual Age!
• Sleeping Disorders
• Long Term Insurance - Get it While You Can
• Alzheimer's Care
• Symptoms For Insomnia