A New Era in Spine Surgery:
Preserving Motion, Protecting Quality of Life
Modern spine surgery is evolving beyond pain relief alone, helping patients preserve mobility, function, and quality of life.
If you’re living with back pain, you already know how much it can take from you: your mobility, your energy, your ability to do the things you love. When spine surgery enters the conversation, it can feel equal parts hopeful and overwhelming.
The good news is that spine surgery today looks fundamentally different than it did even a decade ago. Advances in surgical robotics, precision planning, and motion-preserving techniques are reshaping what spine care can achieve.
The conversation has evolved from simply eliminating pain to preserving long-term function, protecting the spine’s natural mechanics, and reducing the likelihood of needing additional surgery years down the road. Dr. Farah Musharbash, a spine surgeon with dual fellowship training in both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine who specializes in motion-preserving procedures at Atlantic Brain and Spine (ABS), has seen this firsthand.
“The goal isn’t just to get you out of pain in the short term,” Musharbash said. “It’s to make sure the decision we make today sets you up for the best possible spine health ten or twenty years from now.”
That principle – not just solving today’s problem, but preserving quality of life for the future – guides every consultation at Atlantic Brain and Spine.
Beyond Fusion: Why Motion-Preserving Surgery Offers Patients More Options
For years, spinal fusion was the most trusted and effective solution for a wide range of conditions, including disc degeneration, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis. By permanently connecting two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine, fusion has provided millions of people with significant pain relief. For the right patient and the right condition, it can be the right choice.
But it isn’t the only one.
Post-operative X-ray of a patient with a cervical disc replacement. The patient was able to return to work after one week with full resolution of arm pain.
Motion-preserving procedures like artificial disc replacement, cervical laminoplasty, cervical foraminotomy, and facet replacement treat the same underlying problems while retaining the spine’s natural range of motion. These treatments replace damaged or degenerated discs with a specialized implant that does what a healthy disc does: absorb load, enable movement, and maintain alignment.
Motion-preserving procedures represent a significant step forward for spinal surgery. The spine is a connected system: when one segment stops moving, the adjacent joints compensate. Over time, that stress accelerates wear at the neighboring levels, often leading fusion patients to additional surgery. In contrast, implanted discs allow the spine to continue moving naturally, distributing those forces.
Studies comparing disc replacement to traditional fusion have shown that patients undergoing motion-preserving surgery maintain greater range of motion, experience less adjacent disc degeneration, and have lower reoperation rates. A long-term study of lumbar disc replacement patients showed that nearly three-quarters were able to return to their original jobs – illustrating how lives, not just pain scores, were genuinely improved.
This represents a change in the discussions around spine care. It isn’t the answer for every patient or diagnosis. But when appropriate, motion-preserving spine surgery can provide better long-term outcomes, both for pain and quality of life.
The Right Procedure for the Right Patient – In the Right Hands
When it comes to spine surgery, the most important question isn’t whether a procedure is newer or more advanced, but whether it’s the right fit – and if the surgeon has the expertise to perform it.
Motion-preserving surgeries are technically demanding procedures that require specialized fellowship training, significant experience, and a surgeon who understands not just how to perform them, but when. The best outcomes come from carefully matching the right procedure to the right person.
“Many surgeons may only be comfortable with fusion or a specific motion-preserving procedure,” explained Dr. Musharbash. “My training with multiple disc replacement systems allows me to offer a greater range of solutions customized to my patients’ anatomy, activity, and goals.”
For example, a highly active patient might be a good candidate for a constrained cervical disc replacement, while other systems have built-in alignment features that are beneficial if additional correction is needed.
Careful evaluation and thoughtful treatment planning remain essential to achieving the best outcomes in spinal surgery. The highly skilled surgeons at ABS have the knowledge and experience to understand not only your diagnosis, but what matters most to you.
Motion Preservation Is a Spine Center Differentiator
Motion-preserving spine surgery is becoming more common. For example, cervical disc replacements increased by more than 1,000% among Medicare patients between 2011 and 2021, showing how quickly the field is moving. Yet not every center offers it as an option.
Many excellent spine centers continue to rely on traditional approaches – not because they’re behind, but because advanced motion-preserving and robotic techniques require specialized training, infrastructure, and case volume not available at every practice.
You deserve to be evaluated at a center that offers the full spectrum of modern surgical options, performed by surgeons with the expertise needed to get you back to the activities you love. To make the conversations around spine health more accessible, Dr. Musharbash offers virtual second opinions – so you can make an informed decision that’s right for you.
Atlantic Brain and Spine surgeons Dr. Farah Musharbash and Dr. Kimberly Ashayeri review treatment options as part of the practice's multidisciplinary approach to spine care.
The Power of an Integrated Spine Team
Choosing a spine surgeon is one of the most important healthcare decisions you can make. At Atlantic Brain and Spine, you’re not just selecting a surgeon: you’re gaining access to an entire team built around collaboration and comprehensive care.
Our practice brings together fellowship-trained, board-certified neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. Every week, the team holds a dedicated indications conference to collaboratively review complex cases before surgical plans are finalized.
This kind of integrated, thoughtful approach is rare, and most spine centers aren’t structured to offer it. Your treatment benefits from the perspectives of multiple specialists, not just one.
Looking Ahead: A Future Focused on Preservation
Spine surgery will continue to evolve. New technologies, improved techniques, and ongoing research are all shaping the future of care.
One thing is becoming increasingly clear: The new standard is to treat today’s pain while preserving tomorrow’s quality of life.
At Atlantic Brain and Spine, that vision drives everything we do. Our team is committed to offering our patients the most advanced evidence-based options available – and to pursuing the training, investment, and innovation needed to stay at the forefront of a field that is quickly changing for the better.
Because, ultimately, spine care isn’t just about your back. It’s about helping you move forward.
If you’ve been told you may need spine surgery or are wondering if motion-preserving options may be right for you, let’s talk about your choices. Request a second opinion with Dr. Musharbash at Atlantic Brain and Spine today.
