Cervical Disc Replacement Procedure, Lateral View

Description

Cervical intervertebral disc arthroplasty is centered in this lateral image of the neck, with a disc replacement implant seated between two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies. The superior and inferior vertebral endplates bracket the prosthesis, and the anterior margins of the vertebral bodies define the ventral profile typically exposed during an anterior cervical approach. Posteriorly, the vertebral arches align toward the spinal canal, with the facet joint complex positioned dorsally and slightly inferior to the disc space in this projection. Depth cues and metallic surface shading distinguish the implant from cortical bone, while keeping the disc space relationships readable in a single plane. Cervical disc replacement is most often performed for symptomatic cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy from degenerative disc disease at common levels such as C5 to C6 or C6 to C7, where disc height loss and osteophytes can narrow the neural foramina. This illustration emphasizes the implant-to-endplate fit and the restored intervertebral height, a point that matters when discussing sagittal alignment, range preservation relative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and risks such as heterotopic ossification or subsidence if endplate preparation is inadequate. Posterior landmarks remain visible enough to orient the viewer to the relationship between the disc space and the spinal canal. A tight operative corridor. Use this illustration in spine surgery lectures, operative technique manuals, and medical device educational materials when you need a straightforward lateral reference for cervical arthroplasty implant position between vertebral bodies. It also supports radiology-pathology correlation discussions in neuroradiology teaching files, where postoperative lateral radiographs are interpreted for implant centering and segmental alignment. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.