Most anterior (front) cervical disectomies are done in association with a fusion. This neck brace is required to allow the two parts to mend properly. Cervical artificial disc replacements require no such brace. Immediate neck motion is not only allowed, it’s required. Since one disc space is linked to another by a plate and screw device, the neck must be braced. Neck fusions are usually performed with a larger incision and larger dissected surgical field. When plates and screws are used, they stick out beyond the vertebral body. The cervical artificial disc replacement surger y parts do not protrude out from the vertebral body. When properly placed, they do not come in any contact with the esophagus or other vital structures, so almost pain-free motion is possible. Recovery is usually quicker and restoration to normal cervical motion occurs very soon. While the current designs allow the current plates to be only a few millimeters thick, they still can be prominent and the associated screws can irritate the throat. Many times patients are able to go home the same day feeling comfortable with no neck brace and little or no blood loss.