Cervical Total Disc Replacement in Athletes: A Systematic Review
John C F Clohisy1, Omri Maayan, Tomoyuki Asada
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.
Clinical Spine Surgery
|September 22, 2023
Summary
Athletes undergoing cervical total disc replacement (cTDR) show high rates of return to sports, with most returning to training in 10 weeks and competition in 30 weeks. Outcomes are comparable to the general population.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Sports medicine
- Spinal surgery
Background:
- Cervical degenerative disc disease significantly impacts athletes.
- The efficacy of cervical total disc replacement (cTDR) in athletes remains underexplored.
Approach:
- A systematic review was conducted using major medical databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library).
- Data extracted included patient demographics, surgical details, outcomes, and return to sports metrics.
- Seven studies comprising 57 cTDR cases in athletes were analyzed.
Key Points:
- The Prestige LP implant was used in 89.5% of cases, with 93% being single-level procedures.
- No reoperations were reported at a mean follow-up of 51.6 months.
- All athletes successfully returned to sports.
Conclusions:
- Athletes achieve high return-to-sport rates after cTDR, with training resumption around 10 weeks and competition around 30 weeks.
- Clinical outcomes post-cTDR in athletes mirror those in the general population.
- Limited evidence, small sample sizes, and study heterogeneity necessitate cautious interpretation.
