Cervical Spine Surgery Preserves Neck Motion

PCM Cervical Disc

March 11, 2014

Cheyenne, WY– Judson Cook, M.D., a neurological surgeon with Summit Spine & Neurosurgery Associates, is the first surgeon in Wyoming to perform cervical disc replacement surgery using a new motion-preserving device known as PCM® Cervical Disc. The surgery was performed at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in early 2014.

The PCM Cervical Disc is one of the more recently approved, newer generation total cervical disc replacement systems. Dr. Cook has used other first-generation disc replacement systems in the past with good long-term success, he said.

“The PCM Cervical Disc was designed to help stabilize the spine and preserve, rather than eliminate, motion,” Dr. Cook said. “The new device can help reduce arm and neck pain as well as spinal cord dysfunction. It also allows patients to retain their neck motion, which is important to many people.”

Procedures to repair disease to the cervical spine (neck) often focus on stabilizing the spine by fusing two vertebrae together into one solid piece of bone.

“While they may relieve pain and other symptoms of cervical disc disease, traditional cervical fusion procedures cause loss of motion in the fused joints,” Dr. Cook said. “This loss of motion, along with the increased stresses on the segments above and below the fusion, is known to lead to a more rapid degeneration of those spinal segments and discs and is called adjacent segment degeneration.”

“A recent seven-year study using an earlier generation of cervical disc replacement technology has shown statistically significant improvements in both neurological function and neck pain. In addition, the need for additional surgeries at the same level was significantly lower—at around 5 percent with the disc replacement, versus 14 percent with a fusion,” Dr. Cook said.*

The PCM Cervical Disc is a small device placed between two cervical vertebrae during a cervical disc replacement procedure. It is one of a select few FDA-approved devices for motion preservation.

“Many patients who are candidates for surgery forgo operations and may be unaware of the cutting-edge options that are now available,” Dr. Cook said.

The PCM Cervical Disc is one of many products offered by NuVasive®, Inc., a medical device company focused on developing minimally disruptive surgical products and procedures for the spine.

Dr. Judson Cook
Neurological Surgeon

About Dr. Judson Cook

Dr. Judson Cook is a board-certified neurological surgeon and a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS), the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American Association of Disability Evaluating Physicians (FAADEP). Dr. Cook received his medical degree with distinction from Tulane Medical School and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore. Today, Dr. Cook practices a broad spectrum of spinal and neurological surgeries, with a strong emphasis on the conservative and operative management of spinal disorders. He strives to remain current on new surgical techniques and technologies and is actively involved in the evaluation and development of new spinal technologies. Dr. Cook is dedicated to providing the appropriate conservative and operative management of all spinal and neurosurgical ailments and strives to fully educate patients of their management options and expected outcomes.