Unanticipated Outcomes After Cervical Disk Arthroplasty

A review of the literature was performed to study the complications of cervical disk arthroplasty. The following early postoperative complications will be discussed in this article: persistent neurologic symptoms and neurologic complications, malpositioning of the prosthesis, and early mechanical failure. The following intermediate and long-term follow-up complications will be discussed: development of new neurologic symptoms and deficits, device-related complications (subsidence and wear), and heterotopic ossification. Cervical disk arthroplasty has proven to be safe and effective as an alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in many patients. Clinical results are good, and the complication rate is low. However, the development of heterotopic ossification and wear with vertebral body osteolysis has to be monitored carefully in the longer term.