How does disc replacement work?
Spinal discs are cushions of tissue which lie between each of the vertebrae of your spine. They act as a type of shock absorber and allow the spine its wide range of motion. While traditional spinal fusion seeks to reduce pain by limiting movement in the affected area, the goal of disc replacement is to relieve pain while still maintaining spinal flexibility and range of motion. To that end, the damaged or diseased disc is replaced with an artificial disc made of metal, plastic (biopolymer), or a combination of the two, much like other artificial joints.