This pathology is one reason behind the development of artificial discs as a possible alternative to fusion surgery.

The surgeon may repair, reposition, or replace the disc with your own tissue or an artificial disc.

Adverse reaction to the materials in an artificial disc.

People who get an artificial disc can always opt for cervical fusion later.

But if a patient has cervical fusion first, it's not possible to later put an artificial disc in the same spot.

Not everyone is a candidate for the artificial disc, however.

Researchers don't think the artificial disc will cause the same problem, but they need to investigate further to know for sure.

After disc replacement, an adverse reaction to an artificial disc is possible.

In rare cases, an artificial disc may be used to replace the disc that is removed.

Procedures such as microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and artificial discs rely on microsurgery.