Why Eichel Wants a Disc Replacement

Dr. Chad Prusmack is a neurosurgeon based in Colorado who has provided Jack Eichel with a recommendation to correct a herniated disc in his neck by proceeding with artificial disc replacement surgery. Jeff and Elliotte chat with Dr. Prusmack about the procedure, the recovery and the risk associated with the surgery, and why this surgery would be more beneficial long-term rather than an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF). Below is the research addressed by Dr. Chad Prusmack in the podcast. (1) Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine: Return to Play After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Professional Athletes (2) National Library of Medicine: Return to Sports After Cervical Total Disc Replacement (3) BioMed Central: Comparison of cervical disc arthroplasty and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of cervical disc degenerative diseases on the basis of more than 60 months of follow-up: a systematic review and meta-analysis (4) National Library of Medicine: Comparison of the Clinical and Radiographic Results Between Cervical Artificial Disk Replacement and Anterior Cervical Fusion: A 6-Year Prospective Nonrandomized Comparative Study (5) Medtronic Spinal: Chris Weidman [VIDEO] This podcast is produced and mixed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.