I had a hip replacement that went bad and had to be removed. As it was explained to me, the implant had tiny debris particles that caused it to loosen. That's all taken care of now but I'm scheduled to have a disc replacement in my neck. Is this likely to happen with disc implants?

Any time implant devices are inserted into joint or disc spaces, there's a risk of debris forming. Most of the parts are either plastic or metal of some type. Movement of the implant components causes microscopic particles to flake off. Over time, the debris that occurs can cause loosening of the implant.

Efforts are being made to change the design of implants to avoid this problem. The Bryan cervical disc prosthesis used in the cervical spine (neck) has some of these features. This implant is a metal-on-polymer (plastic) device.

It has a special cover that is designed to catch and contain any debris. The surfaces in contact with the bone are porous to allow bone ingrowth. A special lubricant is injected into the compartment formed by the sheath. This helps seal off any places debris might escape through.

There's always a chance that these safety measures will fail. But the risk is low and results are good. Share your concerns and questions with the surgeon. Find out what type of implant device will be used and any features it may have to prevent loosening from debris.