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Your spine is designed to move, and for some patients with a damaged disc, keeping that movement is an important goal when surgery is on the table. At Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas, Dr. Scott Kutz, MD, a neurosurgeon board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) with offices in Lewisville, TX and Plano, TX, evaluates patients interested in motion-preserving spine surgery Plano TX options and artificial disc replacement Lewisville TX patients ask about.

This article explains what motion-preserving spine surgery means and walks through how artificial disc replacement works, step by step. You will also learn how cervical and lumbar procedures differ, the risks involved, and the non-surgical options that often come first.

If you want to know whether a motion-preserving option may apply to you, contact Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas to discuss an evaluation.

Key Takeaways

• Motion-preserving spine surgery aims to treat a spinal problem while keeping as much natural movement as possible at the treated level.
• Artificial disc replacement is one of the most studied motion-preserving procedures, especially in the neck.
• The procedure removes the damaged disc, relieves pressure on nerves, and places an implant designed to allow controlled motion.
• Cervical and lumbar disc replacement differ in approach, candidacy, and recovery.
• Not every patient is a candidate, and results vary by patient and diagnosis.

Table of Contents

• What Does Motion-Preserving Spine Surgery Mean?
• How Artificial Disc Replacement Works, Step by Step
• Artificial Disc Replacement Lewisville TX and Plano TX: Cervical vs Lumbar
• Risks, Limits, and Non-Surgical Options
• Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas: Motion-Preserving Spine Care
• Take the Next Step With a Clearer Plan
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Motion-Preserving Spine Surgery Mean?

Motion-preserving spine surgery refers to procedures designed to address a spinal problem while keeping the treated segment able to move. The idea is simple: each disc in your spine acts as a cushion and a pivot point, and when it is possible to keep that pivot working, the surrounding levels may not need to compensate as much.

Why Spinal Motion Matters

Your neck and lower back bend, twist, and extend thousands of times a day. Each spinal level contributes a small share of that movement. When one level stops moving, as happens after a fusion heals, the levels above and below take on more of the work. Over time, that added load may contribute to wear at those neighboring levels.

How Motion Preservation Fits Into Treatment

Motion preservation is a goal, not a rule. For some patients, keeping motion is reasonable and supported by their anatomy. For others, stabilizing the spine through fusion is the more predictable path. Understanding artificial disc replacement vs fusion is part of every evaluation, so the decision is matched to the patient rather than to a preference for one technique.

How Artificial Disc Replacement Works, Step by Step

Artificial disc replacement is one of the most studied motion-preserving procedures. A review of long-term U.S. Food and Drug Administration trials, available through the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central, notes that cervical total disc replacement has been established as an alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in numerous randomized clinical trials. In one trial summarized in that review, 276 patients received a cervical disc replacement and 265 received fusion, and both groups were followed for two years. Here is how the procedure generally works.

Step 1: Evaluation and Imaging

Before surgery is discussed, a specialist reviews your symptoms, examination, and imaging such as MRI and CT scans. This step confirms which disc is responsible for your symptoms and whether your bone quality, facet joints, and spinal stability support a motion-preserving approach.

Step 2: The Anterior Approach

Disc replacement is usually performed from the front of the spine. In the neck, the surgeon makes a small incision on the front of the neck and gently moves soft tissues aside to reach the disc. In the lower back, access is through the abdomen.

Step 3: Removing the Disc and Relieving Nerve Pressure

The damaged disc is removed, along with any fragments or bone spurs pressing on nerves or the spinal cord. In the neck, this decompression is what addresses arm symptoms caused by nerve pressure, and it is similar to the decompression performed in a fusion.

Step 4: Placing the Implant

The surgeon prepares the disc space and places the artificial disc between the two vertebrae. The implant has bearing surfaces designed to allow flexion, extension, and rotation. Unlike fusion, no plate, rods, or screws are used to lock the two vertebrae together.

Step 5: Bone Integration Over Time

After surgery, the implant’s surfaces are designed to integrate with the vertebral bone. The goal is for the segment to remain stable while continuing to move.

Artificial Disc Replacement Lewisville TX and Plano TX: Cervical vs Lumbar

Cervical Disc Replacement

Most of the long-term research on disc replacement involves the neck. Cervical disc replacement may be considered for patients with a herniated disc or degenerative changes at one or two levels causing arm pain, numbness, or weakness. Many cervical patients go home the same day or after a short stay, though recovery time varies.

Lumbar Disc Replacement

Lumbar disc replacement is performed through the abdomen and has more specific candidacy requirements. It may be considered for selected patients whose lower back symptoms come from a single degenerated disc and who do not have significant facet arthritis or instability. For patients researching degenerative disc disease treatment Lewisville TX options, a specialist can explain whether a lumbar disc replacement, a fusion, or continued conservative care may fit.

Risks, Limits, and Non-Surgical Options

Who May Not Be a Candidate

Disc replacement may not be appropriate for patients with osteoporosis, significant instability, advanced facet joint arthritis, deformity, or disease at many levels. In those cases, fusion or another approach may provide a more predictable result.

General Surgical Risks

Risks can include infection, bleeding, nerve irritation, temporary hoarseness or difficulty swallowing after cervical procedures, risks related to the abdominal approach with lumbar procedures, including injury to nearby blood vessels, implant wear, movement or settling, bone forming around the implant that can limit its motion, and the possibility of further treatment later. Your surgeon should review these risks with you in relation to your health.

Non-Surgical Options Often Come First

Many patients improve with physical therapy, medication, epidural steroid injections, and activity changes. Surgery is usually discussed when symptoms persist despite these treatments or when nerve symptoms are significant.

Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas: Motion-Preserving Spine Care

Dr. Scott C. Kutz, MD is a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon, board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS), with more than 25 years of experience and more than 6,000 patients treated. He is the founder and head neurosurgeon of Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas, a private practice in Lewisville, TX and Plano, TX dedicated exclusively to minimally invasive and motion-preserving surgical techniques for spinal conditions. He has been a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) since 2011 and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) since 2010.

Dr. Kutz specializes in endoscopic spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, sacroiliac joint fusion, and complex revision spine surgery. His approach prioritizes the least invasive appropriate option first, using advanced surgical techniques designed to minimize tissue disruption, with the goal of long-term symptom improvement for patients across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond. The Plano office is located at 5465 Legacy Drive, Suite 650, and the main Lewisville office is at 1850 Lakepointe Drive, Suite 500.

To review your options with Dr. Scott Kutz, MD, contact Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas.

Take the Next Step With a Clearer Plan

Motion-preserving surgery is worth understanding if you have a disc problem and want to know all of your options. If you are researching artificial disc replacement Lewisville TX or Plano options, an evaluation can show whether your anatomy supports a motion-preserving approach or whether another option may fit better.

Patients from Plano, Lewisville, Frisco, Carrollton, and across the Dallas-Fort Worth area can read more about artificial disc replacement at Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas and bring their questions to the visit.

If you would like to discuss whether disc replacement may be an option for you, contact Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas to schedule an evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is motion-preserving spine surgery?

Motion-preserving spine surgery refers to procedures designed to treat a spinal problem while keeping the treated level able to move. Artificial disc replacement is a common example. The goal is to relieve nerve pressure without joining vertebrae together, though whether this approach fits depends on your anatomy and a specialist’s evaluation.

How does an artificial disc move like a natural disc?

An artificial disc has bearing surfaces designed to allow flexion, extension, and rotation, similar to a healthy disc. After placement, its surfaces are designed to integrate with the bone of the vertebrae above and below. The goal is a stable segment that continues to move, although individual results vary.

Is disc replacement done on the neck or the lower back?

Both are possible. Cervical disc replacement in the neck is the most widely studied and is performed through a small incision on the front of the neck. Lumbar disc replacement is performed through the abdomen and has more specific candidacy requirements. A specialist can explain which, if either, applies to you.

What are the risks of motion-preserving spine surgery?

General risks include infection, bleeding, nerve irritation, temporary hoarseness or swallowing difficulty after neck procedures, implant wear, settling, or bone forming around it, and the possibility of needing further treatment. Lumbar procedures carry additional abdominal considerations. Your surgeon should review the risks that apply to your health and the level being treated.

Who is a good candidate for motion-preserving spine surgery?

Patients who may be considered often have a disc problem at one or two levels, good bone quality, no significant facet arthritis, and no instability. Symptoms usually have not improved with conservative care. Patients with osteoporosis, deformity, or multi-level disease may be better served by another approach after a full evaluation.

Where can I be evaluated for disc replacement in the Plano area?

Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas has offices in Plano at 5465 Legacy Drive, Suite 650, and in Lewisville at 1850 Lakepointe Drive, Suite 500. To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Scott Kutz, MD, call the office at (972) 244-3491 and bring any recent imaging with you.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. Please consult a qualified physician about your specific condition. To discuss your options with Dr. Scott Kutz, MD, contact Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas.