In yesterday's Health Matters we met a local man who agreed to take part in a study for FDA approval of an artificial cervical disk. The stipulation? You don't know if you actually have the new disc or a fusion until after you've had the surgery.

Patient Keith Greenberg says, "I didn't want the fusion but at the same point.I was literally losing control of my arm."

Neurosurgeon says that Douglas F. Savage says "The problem with the fusion though is that with many people down the road they get the same problem again at the same level either above or below the fusion, and then they have to have another operation."

Keith was just waking up from surgery when his wife gave him the news about whether or not he got the artificial disc. "She gave me a kiss and she told me I actually got the disc, that was the first I've heard of it."

Keith's wife Luanne says "As soon as I saw the doctor I mean, he didn't even have to call my name, I just ran out there, I knew he wanted to talk to me. He actually showed me the titanium disc. He showed me an x-ray of where it was located in his neck and I was just ecstatic."

And how's Keith doing? "For me the gamble paid off, I actually got what I wanted. It definitely helped the quality of life with it. With the disc I still have 100% movement of my neck,"

Dr. Savage also says "It makes sense to replace a joint I mean, nobody fuses their knee anymore or fuses a hip. I think it will probably replace the majority of fusions given time."

The fusion is successful over 90% of the time and that's a pretty good success rate for an operation. The FDA will only approve the Cervicore if it's at least as successful as the fusion.

For more information and to find out if you can be a candidate for this study you can call 1-800-334-3792.