Cervical Spine Care

Cervical Radiculopathy/Myelopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated, often due to a herniated disc or bone spurs. This can cause radiating pain, numbness, or weakness down the arms.

Cervical Myelopathy is a more serious condition where the spinal cord itself becomes compressed, leading to coordination issues, difficulty walking, or even paralysis.

Causes: Radiculopathy and myelopathy are often caused by spinal degeneration, herniated discs, trauma, or conditions like arthritis that narrow the spinal canal.

Symptoms:

• Pain radiating from the neck to the shoulders and arms
• Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
• Muscle weakness in the upper limbs
• Coordination and balance problems (myelopathy)

Treatment: Treatments may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, cervical traction, and in severe cases, surgical interventions such as discectomy or spinal fusion to relieve pressure on nerves or the spinal cord.

Cervical Stenosis

Cervical Stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck, which can place pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.

Causes: Aging is the primary cause, as the discs between vertebrae lose water content and become less flexible. Bone spurs and thickened ligaments can also contribute to the narrowing of the spinal canal.

Symptoms:

• Neck pain
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
• Loss of coordination or balance
• Difficulty walking

Treatment: Non-surgical options include physical therapy, medications, and epidural steroid injections. If these methods fail, decompression surgery or laminectomy may be recommended to widen the spinal canal.

Cervical Herniated Disc

A Cervical Herniated Disc occurs when the soft inner gel of a disc in the neck bulges out through a tear in the outer layer, pressing on nearby nerves.

Causes: Herniated discs are often caused by degeneration due to aging, wear and tear, or injury from lifting heavy objects, falls, or accidents.

Symptoms:

• Sharp pain in the neck, shoulder, or arms
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers
• Weakness in the upper body
• Limited neck mobility

Treatment: Rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy are often the first line of treatment. In severe cases, surgical options like discectomy or spinal fusion may be needed to remove or repair the damaged disc.

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition in which the discs in the cervical spine gradually lose hydration and elasticity, leading to reduced shock absorption between the vertebrae.

Causes: Natural aging is the most common cause of cervical degenerative disc disease. Repetitive strain, previous neck injuries, and smoking may also contribute to the degeneration of the spinal discs.

Symptoms:

• Chronic neck pain
• Stiffness and reduced range of motion
• Pain that radiates to the arms
• Muscle weakness in the shoulders or arms

Whether caused by degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or injury, our team provides advanced surgical solutions tailored to your needs.

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion
• Cervical Spine Fusion
• Cervical Laminectomy
• Minimally Invasive Cervical Discectomy
• Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion (ACDF)

Procedures

ACDF is a common procedure used to treat herniated discs or degenerative disc disease in the neck. During this surgery, the damaged disc is removed through a small incision in the front of the neck.

A bone graft, or a synthetic substitute, is then placed in the space left by the removed disc to fuse the vertebrae together.

This fusion stabilizes the spine, relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and reduces pain and other neurological symptoms.

ACDF is highly effective for alleviating neck pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms, restoring mobility and improving quality of life.

Benefits of ACDF:

• Relief from neck and arm pain
• Stabilization of the cervical spine
• Minimal scarring with a small anterior incision
• High success rate in restoring function and reducing symptoms

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that permanently connects two or more vertebrae in the spine, eliminating motion between them.

It’s often used to treat conditions like spinal instability, severe back pain, or degenerative disc disease. By stabilizing the spine, spinal fusion can help reduce pain, improve function, and prevent further damage, allowing patients to regain mobility and improve their quality of life.

Benefits of Spinal Fusion

• Pain Relief: Reduces chronic back or neck pain.
• Improved Stability: Prevents abnormal spinal movements.
• Enhanced Mobility: Restores daily function by reducing pain.
• Damage Prevention: Protects the spine from further injury.

Cervical Laminectomy

Cervical laminectomy is a procedure designed to relieve spinal cord compression caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis, tumors, or bone spurs.

This procedure involves removing the lamina, the back part of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal, to create more space and reduce pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.

By decompressing the spinal cord, cervical laminectomy can alleviate pain, numbness, and weakness, particularly in the arms and legs.

Benefits

• Effective treatment for spinal cord compression
• Relief from pain, numbness, and weakness
• Improvement in overall function and mobility
• Enhanced quality of life for patients with spinal stenosis

Minimally Invasive Cervical Discectomy

Minimally invasive cervical discectomy is a cutting-edge approach to treating herniated discs or other conditions causing nerve compression in the cervical spine.

Through smaller incisions and the use of advanced imaging technology, the surgeon removes the damaged disc or disc fragments with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues.

This approach offers quicker recovery, less postoperative pain, and reduced scarring compared to traditional surgery.

Minimally invasive cervical discectomy is ideal for patients seeking an effective, less invasive solution to their cervical spine problems.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Cervical Discectomy:

• Smaller incisions and less scarring
• Faster recovery time
• Reduced risk of complications
• Minimal postoperative discomfort