Shawn Hermenau MD, of Desert Spine Institute in Yuma, Ariz., used Mobi-C technology to perform a one-level cervical disc replacement, reports Yuma Sun. The procedure replaces a cervical disc with a special device to promote range of motion and reduced recovery time to about two weeks.
According to the report Dr. Hermenau performed the procedure on 26-year-old Justin Wilkerson who Dr. Hermenau believed to be the right patient due to his youth and urgency to return to work as a trucker.
"Spinal fusion is still the more common operation," Dr. Hermenau told the Yuma Sun. "For older people, a disc replacement is not the way to go… But if you're 20, it's a good option to look into."
Mobi-C is the first and only current FDA-approved cervical disc replacement for one- and two-level applications, reports Yuma Sun.