Artificial disc replacement offers a motion-preserving alternative to fusion for carefully selected patients with cervical disc pathology. By maintaining normal movement at the operated level, this approach potentially reduces stress on adjacent segments and may decrease the risk of adjacent segment degeneration. The procedure involves removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an articulating prosthesis designed to replicate the natural biomechanics of the cervical spine.
During robotic-assisted cervical disc replacement, the anterior approach is similar to ACDF, but preparation and implantation require exceptional precision to ensure optimal device function. After exposure and registration, the robotic system creates a detailed map of the patient's cervical anatomy. The damaged disc is removed under robotic guidance, ensuring complete decompression while preserving the bony endplates. The robotic arm assists with precise midline identification and proper depth determination, which are critical for device performance. Trial implants verify appropriate sizing, and the final prosthesis is inserted with robotic guidance, ensuring exact midline placement and appropriate depth. This precision potentially improves device longevity and functional outcomes by optimising biomechanics. For two-level replacements, the robotic system maintains precise alignment between levels, helping to restore natural cervical lordosis while preserving motion at both treated segments.
