What Is an Artificial Disc?
Between each pair of vertebrae is a natural, soft cushioning structure called an intervertebral disc, which helps your spine bend and absorb shock. These discs have two essential parts:
- Annulus: The tough outer layer, comparable to several layers of canvas tightly wrapped around the center.
- Nucleus: The softer gel center that helps maintain flexibility and absorbs impact.
When a disc becomes severely damaged or diseased, an artificial disc can be implanted to replicate its functions—maintaining space between the vertebrae and allowing motion in the spine.
Artificial disc replacement (ADR) involves surgically removing and replacing the damaged disc with an implant. Often made of metal, plastic-like (biopolymer) materials, or a combination, these implants help restore disc height, maintain proper spine alignment, and reduce stress on adjacent spinal levels—all while preserving or closely imitating the spine’s natural range of motion.
This involves:
- Carefully removing the problematic disc and any fragments pressing on spinal nerves
- Inserting the artificial disc—often composed of two endplates and a flexible spacer—so the vertebrae can move around it with less friction or pain