Cervical Spine Surgery
Cervical spine surgery is performed to treat problems in the neck such as misalignment, compressed nerves, or spinal cord abnormalities. Some of the most common reasons to perform cervical spine surgery include:
- Removal of the disc and bone that is due to nerve pain.
- Removal of tumors or masses
- Fuse adjacent vertebrae along to create stability.
- Widen the spinal canal to relieve spinal cord compression
Neck surgery is performed to relieve symptoms due one of two types of pathologies:
- Spinal cord compression in the neck also known as cervical spondylotic myelopathy
- Spinal nerve root compression in the neck also known as cervical radiculopathy
- The particular surgical objectives are planned for each patient depending on the location and nature of the anatomic abnormality.
Surgery to treat nerve pain from cervical degenerative disc disease focuses on relieving pain and nerve pressure. But, the surgery treats spinal cord compression that restores function and also protects from further damage. The main aim of cervical spine surgeries include:
- Alleviate neck or arm pain
- Maintain spinal stability
- Improve spine alignment
- Preserve mobility in neck and range of motion
Types of cervical spine surgery
There are three types of cervical spine surgery such as:
- Decompression It involves decompressing the spinal cord or nerves in the neck by removing a piece of bone, disc or other structure compression compressing the neural tissue.
- Fusion The surgery is performed to treat instability in the spine through the procedure of fusion. This fusion creates a strong bone bridge to form between the vertebrae.
- Disc replacement This surgery involves removing the entire damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial disc implant. Decompression and fusion procedures are performed together in ACDF surgery, where fusion is done alongside the decompression to prevent destabilization of the cervical spine. Instruments of spinal surgery are used such as plates and screws to add stability to the fused spinal construct.
Understanding the need of cervical spine surgery
Most common reasons that recommend cervical spine surgery include:
Frequent or recurrent arm pain or numbness where non surgical treatments fail to relieve symptoms.
Progressive neurological deficit, particularly definitive motor weakness.
Tests or symptoms that confirm the condition of the patient such as MRI or other imaging tests.
Cervical spine surgery is generally chosen by the patient, meaning a patient can take the decision to have surgery or non surgical treatments to treat the signs and symptoms.
Some of the conditions that need medical attention immediately such as spinal tumors, traumatic injury, accidental injuries or acute spinal cord injury.
Conditions that are treated with cervical spine surgery
Cervical spine surgery in India commonly known as neck surgery is recommended in the conditions such as:
- Cervical degenerative disc disease
- Cervical facet joint degeneration
- Cervical herniated discs
- Cervical stenosis with myelopathy
- Cervical spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
- Spinal tumors
- Traumatic instability of the cervical spine
Risk factors of spine surgery
There is no surgery without any risk, but before considering surgery as a treatment it is better to understand its pros and cons. Some of the general complications include:
- Bleeding
- Side effects of anesthesia
- Infection
- Stroke
- Death
Some specific complications related to spine surgery include:
- Infection of the surgical site
- Damage to nerve or spinal cord
- Paralysis, numbness or limb weakness
- Pressure ulcers/abrasion
- Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid
- Difficult in speaking
- Problem in swallowing
- Change in voice
- Bladder and bowel changes
- Spinal cord or nerve injury
- Visual impairment
- Failure of fusion
- Failure of an artificial implant
- Blood vessel injury
- Blood clot formation
Cost of cervical spine surgery in India
The cost of the cervical spine surgery in India is affordable and convenient in all factors. The management of the top neuro hospitals in India are commendable, and up to the mark. Top neurosurgeons in India perform the treatment with their skills and experience that give more successful results.
However, the total cost of the treatment may vary depending on various factors, such as the choice of hospital, the length of stay at the hospital, the expertise of the surgeon, the type of surgery, the components used in the surgery, and more.
Summary
Cervical spine surgery is performed to treat problems in the neck such as misalignment, compressed nerves, or spinal cord abnormalities.
Surgery to treat nerve pain from cervical degenerative disc disease focuses on relieving pain and nerve pressure. But, the surgery treats spinal cord compression that restores function and also protects from further damage.
