Cervical Spine Surgery Trends in Older Adults

Recent years have seen a shift toward keeping the neck moving when treating spine problems. Instead of fusing bone segments together, doctors can now replace a damaged disc with an artificial one that still allows motion. This technique is called cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA).

The new method promises to keep the neck flexible and may reduce wear on nearby discs that often get damaged after a fusion. While many studies have shown CDA is becoming more common, it isn’t clear how often it’s used among people who rely on Medicare—especially those in Medicare Advantage plans.

Researchers looked back at national Medicare Part B data from 2009 to 2022. They counted how many single‑level and multi‑level CDA procedures were performed each year. By fitting statistical curves to the past numbers, they could forecast how many of these surgeries might happen up until 2040.

Their analysis suggests that the number of CDA procedures will keep rising. The growth pattern varies between one‑level and multi‑level surgeries, but overall the trend points to a steady increase. This projection can help hospitals and policymakers plan for future resources, such as operating rooms, surgical staff, and post‑op care.

The study also highlights that the adoption rate in Medicare Advantage members is still uncertain. Because these plans can have different coverage rules, the true picture of how widely CDA is used in this group remains unclear. Future research will need to dig deeper into those differences.

Overall, the data show that keeping motion in the cervical spine is becoming a more popular choice for treating older adults with neck problems. As the population ages, doctors and insurers will need to prepare for more of these procedures and ensure patients receive the best possible care.