Cervical Spine Arthroplasty Disc Replacement malpractice 3D animations. Illustrates the surgical technique for performing a cervical disc replacement, also known as a cervical arthroplasty or total disc replacement. This procedure is used to remove an intervertebral disc that is causing uncontrollable pain or is compressing the adjacent spinal cord or nerve root. The damaged disc is replaced with an artificial disc made of various metals and plastics. There are a number of artificial discs, also known as prostheses, on the market. Each one looks different and has different insertion techniques and tools. However, the basic procedure illustrated here is common to all cervical arthroplasties. Also shown is the removal of the pathological disc, the preparation of the intervertebral space for the artificial disc, the insertion of the artificial disc, x-ray position checks, wound closure. Cervical Spine Arthroplasty Disc Replacement malpractice 3D animations.