BACKGROUND: Cervical degenerative disk disease affects the fist seven vertebrae that extend from the base of the skull. It can cause stiffness in the neck, or chronic neck pain. Degenerative disk disease (DDD) happens when one or more disks in between the vertebrae degenerate and create excess friction and inflammation around the affected vertebrae. Once a disk starts to degenerate it typically progresses into a chronic problem since no new blood is able to get to the disk to help repair it. Lumbar DDD is more common than cervical DDD. Cervical DDD usually forms as a result of injury and can be detected by x-ray, CT scan, or MRI.

SPINAL FUSION: More than 200,000 people in the United States undergo cervical spinal fusion surgery each year to treat neck pain. Spinal fusion is a major surgery during which two or more vertebrae are fused together so there can be no motion between them. During surgery bone grafts are places around the affected vertebrae and are then left to heal. Once healed, the grafts act as welding between the vertebrae. This process can take several months and is similar to healing a bone fracture. There are several reasons a surgeon would consider performing a spinal fusion. Treatment of a broken vertebra, correction spinal curves or slippages, elimination of pain from motion, treatment of instability and treatment of cervical disk herniations are a few of the reasons.

PRESTIGE: The PRESTIGE Cervical Disk System is a metal device that is designed to replace diseased disks in the neck. The FDA approved the PRESTIGE in July of 2007. It's made of two pieces and can be attached to adjacent neck bones with screws. Unlike spinal fusion, the PRESTIGE allows for movement at the replacement site. The device moves with a ball and through mechanism. It can be used to replace any cervical disk from C3-C7.

A randomized controlled clinical trial was done to test the effectiveness of the PRESTIGE Cervical Disk System. A total of 541 patients enrolled in the study at 32 sites across the country. About half of the patients received the PRESTIGE Cervical Disk, the other half received standard treatment, which included an anterior discectomy and fusion. Results of the study were based on Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores. A NDI score of 15 of higher indicates a successful outcome. Patients who received the PRESTIGE Cervical Disk recorded an average NDI score of 34.8 twelve months after surgery. According to the study, patients who received the PRESTIGE Cervical Disk returned to work an average of 26-percent sooner than patients who received standard treatment.

One of the first implantations of the PRESTIGE, after it's FDA approval, was done in Dallas by John Peloza, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Spine Care. "This is an exciting time for patients suffering from degenerative disk disease in the neck," Dr. Peloza was quoted saying. "The outstanding design of the PRESTIGE disc allows us to now offer our patients an exceptional, safe alternative to spinal fusion that maintains motion in the necks."