Rick Sasso, MD

In a recent blog entry, I highlighted information from a study that I participated in and an article I co-authored, “Quality of Spinal Motion with Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.” This blog entry will define a few key terms used in that abstract/study.

Kinematic Study – This is the study of the motion of the body, not taking into consideration the effects of mass or force on the motion.

Cervical Arthroplasty – Refers to the spine surgery procedure where a damaged cervical disc is removed and replaced by an artificial cervical disc. 

Spinal Fusion – Often this procedure is referred to as ACDF, standing for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This is the spine surgical procedure where a damaged cervical disc is removed. To preserve the space within the vertebral bodies a bone graft is then placed where the damaged disc was removed. This bone graft is either from the patient’s hip bone (iliac crest) referred to as an autograft donation or from a bone bank (allograft). Then a spinal plate and screws are attached to the vertebral bodies immediately above and below the graft.