(ALBANY, NY) – William Montgomery, MD, a surgeon on the OrthoNY spine team, is among the first in the Northeast to be certified for placement of the new Mobi-C®, an artificial disc that can be implanted at two adjacent levels of the neck. The device, which can also be used for single-level disc replacement, was approved by the FDA in August and studied in a large multicenter clinical trial, with results published in the November 2013 Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Unlike spinal fusion, the standard procedure for many patients who have degenerative disease that affects two adjacent damaged discs, Mobi-C® implantation doesn’t just relieve pain. It also allows for a good postoperative range of neck motion and is less likely than fusion to cause degeneration of surrounding discs.
“The Mobi-C® Disc is a significant advancement for patients with certain types of cervical spine disease,” states Dr. Montgomery. “These patients often have severe neck pain, with pain radiating down the arm. It is very common for those with this condition, also known as radiculopathy, to have cervical disc degeneration at two levels. If they meet the criteria for Mobi-C®, it offers an alternative that can provide better results and fewer long-term complications than fusion.”
The Mobi-C® is implanted to replace two adjacent damaged discs in the neck, or cervical spine, from levels C3-C7. The device is made for people who have not responded to non-surgical care, and have damaged discs that may or may not cause neck pain, but do result in loss of feeling, loss of movement, pain, weakness or tingling down the arm and possibly into the hand. Surgery with Mobi-C® can help keep neck movement, while reducing the pain and tingling caused by the damaged discs.
Although just approved in the Unites States, Mobi-C® has been in use since 2004 in 24 European nations, where more than 17,000 have been implanted.
“While other artificial discs have been available here for a number of years, this is the first time we have one that can be implanted at two levels,” adds Dr. Montgomery. “It presents an incredible opportunity for pain relief related to cervical disc damage, and I’m excited to bring this state-of-the-art treatment to St. Peter’s Hospital.”
A Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve Medical Corps, Dr. Montgomery is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and highly specialized in spinal disorders. He completed a coveted two-year fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and is one of the few spine surgeons dual-trained by both neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. He specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques in the management of complex cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders.
To schedule an appointment, call (518)489-2663, or visit www.orthony.com.