Benefit 01
Preserved Range of Motion
The treated segment continues to flex, extend and rotate, keeping the movement patterns your body already knows.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Preserve your spine's natural motion while eliminating pain from diseased discs. Pro Spine UAE brings one of the world's largest experiences in motion preservation surgery to Clemenceau Medical Center, Dubai.
- 10,000+
- ADR Procedures
- Complex Cases
- Accepted for review
- Structured
- Recovery programme
- 20+
- Years Follow-up
01 / Purpose & Benefits
Motion Preservation Philosophy
Artificial Disc Replacement represents a fundamental shift in how degenerative disc disease is treated. Rather than locking two vertebrae together, the diseased disc is removed and replaced with a mobile implant that reproduces the segment's natural range of movement.
The intent is to relieve pain at its source while keeping the biomechanics of the spine intact, so adjacent segments are not asked to absorb load they were never designed to carry.
Benefit 02
Reduced Adjacent Segment Load
By avoiding a rigid construct, ADR may reduce the accelerated wear that fusion can transfer to neighbouring discs.
Benefit 03
Faster Return to Activity
No bone graft needs to heal, so structured rehabilitation typically begins within days rather than months.
02 / The Procedure
How the Surgery Works
An anterior approach reaches the spine without cutting through the muscles of the back. Each step is planned from your own imaging before the day of surgery.
- 01
Anterior Access
The spine is approached from the front through a small incision, leaving the posterior muscles and stabilising structures untouched.
- 02
Discectomy & Decompression
The degenerated disc is removed completely and any material compressing the nerve roots or spinal cord is cleared.
- 03
Implant Sizing & Placement
The prosthesis is trialled for height and footprint, then positioned under live imaging so the centre of rotation matches your anatomy.
- 04
Motion Verification
Movement is confirmed intraoperatively across flexion and extension before closure. The implant must move before you leave theatre.
Clemenceau Medical Center, Dubai
03 / Anatomy
Cervical and Lumbar ADR
The principle is shared, but the implants, approach and recovery differ substantially between the neck and the lower back.
Cervical / C3-C7
Cervical ADR
Treats arm pain, numbness and weakness caused by disc herniation or degeneration in the neck. Up to four levels can be addressed in a single procedure in appropriate candidates.
- Typical hospital stay
- 1 night
- Desk work
- 2-3 weeks
- Full activity
- 3 months
Lumbar / L3-S1
Lumbar ADR
Addresses discogenic low back pain and leg symptoms where the disc is the confirmed pain generator. Selection is stricter, and facet joint condition is decisive.
- Typical hospital stay
- 2 nights
- Desk work
- 4-6 weeks
- Full activity
- 4-6 months
04 / Cervical
Cervical Disc Replacement
The worn disc in your neck is replaced with a small moving implant. You keep turning, nodding and looking up as normal.
Fusion
Two bones joined into one
- That level no longer bends
- Extra strain passes to the levels next to it
- Bone needs months to knit together
Disc replacement
A moving implant instead
- Your neck keeps its normal movement
- Less strain on the rest of your neck
- Nothing has to fuse — recovery is quicker
You may be a good match if…
- Neck or arm pain, tingling or weakness that hasn't settled
- Physiotherapy, medication or injections haven't been enough
- Your scan shows one or two worn discs in the neck
- You want to stay active at work, in sport or behind the wheel
It isn't the right operation for everyone — heavy arthritis, an unstable neck or a badly curved neck usually calls for a different plan. Your scan tells us quickly, and we'll say so honestly.
What the first three months look like
First 2 weeks
Back to desk work
Gentle movement from day one. Most people are back at a desk and driving again within two weeks.
Weeks 6–12
Full movement back
Physical work, the gym and sport come back step by step, guided by your physio.
After 3 months
Back to your life
No restrictions for most people, with yearly check-ins to make sure all is well.
9 in 10
say their pain is much better
95%
return to their job
17 yrs
of follow-up showing the neck still moves
Payment options include cash, or claiming through your insurer yourself using the documents we provide.
Will it hurt, and how long am I in hospital?
You are asleep for the operation and feel nothing. Afterwards most people describe a sore throat and mild neck stiffness for a few days, managed with simple painkillers.
Will my neck feel stiff afterwards?
No — that is the whole point of this operation. The implant bends and turns in place of the worn disc, so nodding, looking up and turning your head stay normal once the early soreness settles.
How soon can I drive and go back to work?
Driving and desk work usually come back within one to two weeks. Physical work, the gym and sport are built back up between six and twelve weeks, guided by your physiotherapist.
How long does the implant last?
These implants are designed for life, and our own patients have been followed for more than 17 years with the neck still moving well.
Can I have this if I've already had a neck fusion?
Often yes. If the level next to an old fusion has worn out, disc replacement is frequently a good option — your scan will tell us for certain.
What if my insurance doesn't cover it?
You claim through your insurer yourself; we provide the documents we have.
05 / Lumbar
Lumbar Disc Replacement
Instead of fusing two bones together, the worn disc in your lower back is replaced with one that moves. It is not right for everyone — and we will tell you honestly which you are.
Good signs
The disc is clearly the source of your pain
What you feel matches what the scan shows.
The small joints behind are healthy
They can take their normal share of the load.
The bones are not slipping
That level of your spine is stable.
Your spine is reasonably well aligned
Its natural curve is close to normal.
When it is not the right choice
One bone has slipped forward
The level needs steadying, not more movement.
The small joints are badly worn
They would be overloaded and keep hurting.
Thinning or fragile bone
The implant needs strong bone to sit against.
An infection anywhere in the body
It must be treated before any surgery.
How the surgery works
It takes one to two hours for a single disc, and you are asleep throughout. Three things have to go right.
- 01
Reaching the disc from the front
We work through a small opening in the abdomen rather than through the back muscles. It means less muscle damage and less pain afterwards.
- 02
Removing the worn disc
The damaged disc comes out completely, taking the pressure off any trapped nerve, and the gap is opened back to its proper height.
- 03
Placing the implant exactly right
Position matters more than anything. We check it on X-ray during the operation and test that the level moves properly before closing.
Getting back to normal
1–2 days
In hospital
Up and walking the same day or the next, with pain controlled.
2–6 weeks
Back to desk work
Physiotherapy starts and daily life returns.
6–12 weeks
Doing more
Exercise and most sport come back gradually.
3–6 months
No restrictions
Back to everything you did before, with yearly check-ins after.
80–85%
have much less pain than before
90%
go back to work
85%+
keep the movement at that level
85%+
would choose it again
How is this different from a fusion?
A fusion joins two bones so that level stops moving. A replacement keeps it moving. Both can relieve pain; only one keeps your back bending where it used to.
What if I am told I am not suitable?
We explain which part of your scan rules it out, and what would help instead — that might be a fusion, or it might be treatment without surgery. Being told no protects you from a poor result.
When can I lift things again?
Light lifting comes back from around six weeks, heavier work and sport between six and twelve weeks, and everything else by three to six months.
How do I find out if it suits me?
Send us your MRI. Your surgeon reviews it personally. Start with the free scan review below.
06 / Candidacy
Am I a Candidate?
ADR is not right for every spine. Honest selection is the single largest determinant of a good long-term result, and some patients are better served by other approaches.
Typically suitable
- Confirmed single or multi-level disc degeneration with matching symptoms
- Preserved facet joints and adequate bone quality
- Failure of at least three months of conservative treatment
- Motivation to complete a structured rehabilitation programme
Usually not suitable
- Advanced facet arthropathy or significant instability
- Osteoporosis or active infection
- Severe deformity requiring correction and stabilisation
- Pain without a clearly identified structural source
Candidacy is determined from your imaging, not from a checklist. Submit your history and scans for a personalised review by the ProSpine UAE team.
Request an Imaging Review07 / Recovery
What Recovery Looks Like
Indicative for uncomplicated single-level ADR. Your own programme is set by your surgeon and physiotherapist.
- 01
DAY 0-2
Hospital
Walking the same day or the morning after. Pain control is reviewed and imaging confirmed before discharge.
- 02
WEEK 1-3
Early Mobilisation
Daily walking increases progressively. Light desk work often resumes toward the end of this window.
- 03
WEEK 4-12
Structured Rehabilitation
Supervised physiotherapy builds core and paraspinal strength, restoring range of motion under load.
- 04
MONTH 3+
Return & Follow-up
Sport and heavier work are cleared individually, with follow-up imaging at defined intervals thereafter.
Do you need more information about your treatment options at ProSpine UAE?
Book your slot to discuss your options with the ProSpine UAE team — with no obligation and no assumption about which treatment suits you.