Tear of the sac covering the nerves (dural tear).The need for additional surgery in the future.

The possible risks and complications for any cervical spine surgery include: Before your surgery, your doctor will discuss each of the risks with you and will take specific measures to help avoid potential complications. Possible complications can be related to the approach used, the bone graft, healing, and long-term changes. If your compression is due to a herniated disk, your doctor will remove the portion of the disk that is compressing the nerve, as well.Īs with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with cervical spine surgery. He or she then removes the bone, bone spurs, and tissues that are compressing the nerve root. Removing this allows the doctor better access to the damaged nerve.

The exact location and size of your scar may vary depending on your condition.ĭuring a posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy, the doctor uses a burr and other specialized tools to thin down the lamina-the bony arch that forms the backside of the spinal canal. In this procedure, the doctor will make a 1- to 2-inch incision along the midline of the back of the neck. 'Posterior' refers to the back part of your body. Your doctor will talk with you about your options. The long-term outcomes are still being researched.ĪDR may be an option for you-depending on the type and location of your problem. To date, the outcomes of ADR surgery are promising and are comparable to that of ACDF surgery. 747-756.Īlthough no longer considered a new technology, the development of ADR is more recent than that of ACDF. Rosemont IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009, pp. Reproduced from Rihn JA, Lawrence J, Gates C, Harris E., Hilibrand AS: Adjacent segment disease after cervical spine fusion. Sometimes larger, solid pieces are used to provide immediate structural support to the vertebrae. The small pieces of bone are placed into the space left where the disk has been removed. The theory is that if the painful spine segments do not move, they should not hurt.Īll spinal fusions use some type of bone material, called a bone graft, to help promote the fusion. Fusion eliminates motion between the degenerated vertebrae and takes away some spinal flexibility. The basic idea is to fuse together the vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone. Spinal fusion is essentially a 'welding' process. After the disk space has been cleared out, your doctor will use spinal fusion to stabilize your spine. This makes more room for the nerves to leave the spine and aids in decompression. The disk space is restored to the height it was prior to the disk wearing out. The exact location and length of your incision may vary depending on your specific condition.ĭuring the procedure, your doctor will remove the problematic disk and any additional bone spurs, if necessary. He or she will operate through a 1- to 2-inch incision along the neck crease. An 'anterior' approach means that the doctor will approach your neck from the front. Limit motion across the degenerated segment of the spine.Maintain the space available for the nerve roots to leave the spine.The procedure involves removing the problematic disk or bone spurs and then stabilizing the spine through spinal fusion. Your overall health and medical history (including whether you have had prior neck surgery)Īnterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion (ACDF)ĪCDF is the most commonly performed procedure to treat cervical radiculopathy.Your doctor's preference and experience.The procedure your doctor recommends will depend on a number of factors-most importantly, the type and location of your problem. Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion (ACDF).

There are three surgical procedures commonly performed to treat cervical radiculopathy.

Cervical spine nerves impingement x ray