Total Disc Replacement (Disc Arthroplasty)
Total disc replacement treats a worn or herniated disc with a motion-preserving artificial disc instead of a fusion. Call today to book with Empire Minimally Invasive Spine & Pain, serving patients across Long Island, New York — including Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma.
Total disc replacement — also called disc arthroplasty — treats a worn or herniated spinal disc by removing it and putting an artificial disc in its place. Unlike a fusion, which locks the level, a disc replacement is designed to keep that segment moving. Empire’s fellowship-trained spine surgeon, Dr. Andrew Joshua Appel, focuses on motion-preserving techniques and sees patients across our Long Island, New York offices in Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma.
The short version
- Disc replacement removes a damaged disc and replaces it with a mobile artificial disc.
- It preserves movement at that level, which may reduce stress on the discs above and below.
- It’s used in the neck and lower back for select patients whose disc disease hasn’t responded to conservative care.
- Not everyone qualifies — it works best for younger patients with healthy joints and no significant instability.
What disc replacement treats
Disc replacement is used for a damaged or degenerated disc that presses on a nerve or causes persistent, disabling pain — in the neck, where it treats disc disease causing arm pain, numbness, or weakness, and in the lower back, where it can address disc-related pain in carefully selected patients. As with any spine surgery, it’s considered only after conservative care hasn’t given lasting relief, and only when your imaging clearly matches your symptoms.
Motion-preserving vs. fusion: A fusion stops motion at the treated level; a disc replacement keeps it moving. Because fusion changes how neighboring discs are loaded, it can add stress to them over the years — something a motion-preserving disc replacement aims to reduce. Fusion is still the better choice when there’s instability or advanced arthritis.
Are you a candidate?
Good candidates usually have single-level (sometimes two-level) disc disease, symptoms that match the disc on imaging, healthy facet joints, no significant instability or advanced arthritis, and pain that hasn’t responded to a fair trial of physical therapy, medication, and sometimes injections. Age and bone quality matter too. Dr. Appel evaluates all of this together — imaging, exam, and your goals — before recommending disc replacement over fusion or continued non-surgical care.
What to expect
Disc replacement is performed through a small incision, with the damaged disc removed and the artificial disc positioned in the cleaned disc space. Because motion is preserved rather than waiting for bone to fuse, recovery is often relatively quick, and many people return to light activity within a couple of weeks and build up over the following weeks. Your surgeon gives you a specific plan based on whether the neck or lower back is treated and how many levels are involved.
Disc replacement vs. fusion
| Disc replacement | Spinal fusion | |
|---|---|---|
| Motion at that level | Preserved | Stopped |
| Adjacent discs | May have less added stress | Can carry more stress over time |
| Best suited to | Younger patients, healthy joints, no instability | Instability, arthritis, multi-level disease |
Meet your surgeon — Dr. Andrew Joshua Appel, MD
Dr. Appel is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who completed his orthopedic residency and dual fellowships in trauma and spine surgery at Brown University. Motion-preserving techniques such as disc arthroplasty are a core focus of his practice, guided by his rule: “treat the patient, not the film.”
Why patients across Long Island choose Empire
We’re a local orthopedic and pain practice serving Long Island, New York — your evaluation, procedure, and follow-up happen close to home with the same team.
- New York: Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma — across Nassau and Suffolk
- Fellowship-trained, motion-preserving spine surgery
- An honest read on whether disc replacement, fusion, or non-surgical care fits you best
Insurance
Coverage varies by plan, and we accept many major insurance plans across our New York offices. Call and our team will verify your benefits before your visit so you know what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
Is disc replacement better than fusion?
Neither is simply better — they suit different patients. Disc replacement preserves motion and may reduce stress on neighboring discs, while fusion is the stronger choice when there’s instability or arthritis. The right option depends on your anatomy and goals.
How long does an artificial disc last?
Modern artificial discs are designed for long-term durability, and studies following patients for years show good results. Your surgeon will discuss what the evidence shows for your specific situation.
What’s recovery like?
Because motion is preserved rather than waiting for a fusion to heal, recovery is often relatively quick, with many people returning to light activity within a couple of weeks. Your plan depends on the region and number of levels treated.
Am I too old for a disc replacement?
There’s no single cutoff, but disc replacement tends to work best for younger patients with healthy joints and good bone quality. An evaluation is the only way to know whether you’re a candidate.
Want to preserve motion, not just fuse it?
Dr. Appel can tell you honestly whether you’re a candidate for disc replacement, across Long Island, NY.
New York: 516-229-1443
AA
Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew J. Appel, M.D. — Board-certified Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Last reviewed July 2026 · Empire Minimally Invasive Spine & Pain
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