Pain follows and sometimes, disc herniation occurs. 
  
During the last ten  years, the  critical operation of introducing a polyethylene cage to isolate  the disc (already an advancement step in itself) unfortunately entailed, after some 8 to 10 years, a debris problem as well as the pathology of Kyphosis, deterioration of adjacent segments. In 1999 a new revolutionary device was discovered: DISCOCERV. This device to replace cervical disks is unique in that it consists of titanium plates embedded with ceramic bearing components, in order to eliminate wear-related complications presented by other materials used in disk replacement and expected to last some 40 years.

Anatomically designed end plates provide intimate contact between the prothesis and vertebral bodies, leading to excellent primary anchorage of the device which also gradually restores the natural curve of the spine. In addition to the fact that this new device will hopefully provide a permanent solution, it is of easy insertion (placed in 2 to 3 minutes) and the operation time in itself lasts less than an hour.  For cervical hernia, the scalpel is used on the  front right side of the neck.
 
The first universal implantation was effected by Prof. Ramadan in Geneva in presence of professors from all over the world. Between June 1999 and december 2003, in Geneva, 52 such operations were carried out on patients aged between 25 to 70.  Federal agreement was finally granted in 2005. Today, 500 implantations have taken place around the world and biomecanics keep improving the technicity of the product.
  
I can but urge you, if the subject matter has raised your curiosity, to see the visual presentation on Prof.
Ramadan's site: http://www.worldspine.org/wslll/ws3_113.pdf
  
The communication message that this presentation conveys, albeit the scientific aspect, is that we, poor sedentary executives facing our computers hours and hours a day, are more than ever exposed to spine injury.
  
If we do not take the necessary "more movement" resolution in 2007, we will end up curled up and crooked well before our time.
  
Our speaker was lengthily applauded by the captivated audience.