A handful of Tri-county area citizens have undergone a new procedure, replacing a damaged disc in their neck with an artificial one, to help them live life with less pain.

A team of spine surgeons including Dr. Joseph Marzluff, neurosurgeon, and Dr. Jason Highsmith, neurosurgeon, recently performed this procedure at Trident Health System Human Motion Institute. These patients are among the first in South Carolina and the first in the Tri-county to get the SECURE-C artificial disc which is in clinical trials. According to Dr. Marzluff, the first trial of this procedure was performed by him two years ago at Trident Health System.

The traditional surgical treatment for a damaged disc is by fusion- removing the disc that cushions the spine, and then surgically fusing the bones together. The traditional fusion can limit the patients’ spinal movement, but Dr. Marzluff says the new artificial disc may allow more mobility in that area of the neck.

“We are hoping this artificial disc will relieve the patients’ symptoms, as the traditional surgeries did. But, by inserting mobile implants will still allow that level to move, which could be more beneficial for the patients in the long run,” Dr. Marzluff said.

In the operating room, the surgeons remove the damaged disc from the neck and measure an artificial one to fit in the patients’ spine.  Once the new disc is placed between the vertebrae, the metal plates of the disc can be seen with x-ray.  Dr. Highsmith explains “by allowing continued movement of the spinal segment where the disc is replaced, we may be able to relieve constant pain without putting extra pressure on the discs above and below the area.”

To learn more about the SECURE-C artificial disc procedure, contact Julie Plummer at Trident Health System, 843.847.5056. Both surgeons are available for interview, and patients who are six to eight weeks – 2 years post surgery are available to tell their experience. X-ray views of the new disc in the patients’ neck are available, and footage of actual surgery may be obtained if pre-arranged.

Trident Health System is an HCA hospital system comprised of three acute care hospitals – Trident Medical Center, Summerville Medical Center and Colleton Medical Center – as well as Moncks Corner Medical Center and diagnostic centers throughout Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties. For more information, please visit our website at www.tridenthealthsystem.com or call 843.797.7000.

Submit your question for "Ask a Doc."