NECK SURGERY

Types of Neck Surgery

If arthritis, inflammation or injury has caused a problem with one or more of the discs in your neck, a type of surgery called a discectomy can help. This is the removal of the disc that is pinching a nerve or otherwise impacting your comfort and mobility. There are a few ways this can be done. The surgeon can remove the disc from the front or the back of your spine using minimally invasive techniques.

There are several options for effective, minimally invasive procedures:

• An artificial cervical disc replacement known as cervical arthroplasty uses a metal and plastic disc to act the same way as the original disc.
• A cervical fusion joins two or more of the vertebrae in the neck together permanently with the use of bone grafts. Sometimes a metal implant is used in addition to the bone graft.
• Laminoplasty is another technique utilized to relieve pressure from the spinal cord by unroofing it.
• A posterior cervical fusion is at times the indicated procedure and may require that screws and rods be placed in the back of the neck.

Your spine surgeon will talk to you about which option is better in your case. Those with certain health conditions such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis might not be candidates for an artificial disc and may have a better prognosis with the fusion surgery.

Recovery After Neck Surgery

Most of these procedures are now performed as an outpatient. Patients often go home on the day of surgery or the next day. The majority of the time there is no need to wear a brace. A soft collar may be provided for comfort.

If you’ve had cervical surgery, your recuperation will take several weeks. Though if you have had a fusion it may take up to a year for the fusion to be complete, symptoms generally resolve in a few weeks to a couple of months. During this time, it’s essential that you talk to your surgeon about the activities that you plan to resume so as not to reinjure your neck. Physical therapy is often recommended to aid the healing process.