Cervical Spine Surgery- Anterior and Posterior

The cervical spine, located in the neck region, plays a crucial role in supporting the head and facilitating a wide range of movements. When conditions or injuries affect the cervical spine, surgical intervention may be necessary to alleviate pain, restore stability, and prevent further complications. Cervical spine surgery encompasses both anterior and posterior approaches, each tailored to specific conditions and anatomical considerations. 

Common Conditions Treated By Cervical Spine Surgery Department

The Cervical Spine Surgery department in a healthcare facility typically treats a variety of conditions affecting the cervical spine (the neck region of the spine). Common diseases and conditions managed by this department include:

• Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease: This condition involves the breakdown of discs in the cervical spine, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
• Cervical Herniated Disc: Occurs when a disc in the neck region protrudes or ruptures, potentially causing nerve compression, pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, arms, or hands.
• Cervical Stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal canal in the cervical region, which can compress the spinal cord and nerves, leading to symptoms like pain, numbness, and in severe cases, spinal cord dysfunction (myelopathy).
• Cervical Myelopathy: A condition resulting from compression of the spinal cord in the cervical spine, often due to stenosis or degenerative changes, leading to neurological symptoms.
• Cervical Radiculopathy: Refers to nerve root compression in the neck, often due to herniated discs or bone spurs, causing pain and neurological symptoms in the arms.
• Cervical Spondylosis: Age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal discs and joints in the neck, leading to chronic neck pain and stiffness.
• Cervical Fractures: Traumatic injuries to the cervical spine, which require surgical intervention to stabilize the spine and prevent spinal cord injury.
• Cervical Spine Tumors: Both benign and malignant tumors in the cervical region that may require surgical removal.
• Spinal Instability: This includes conditions like spondylolisthesis in the cervical spine, where one vertebra slips over another, necessitating surgical intervention.
• Spinal Deformities: Such as kyphosis or scoliosis affecting the cervical spine.

Common Procedures

The Cervical Spine Surgery department in a healthcare facility typically performs a range of specialized procedures to address various conditions affecting the neck region of the spine. Common procedures include:

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): This involves removing a herniated or degenerative disc from the neck and fusing the adjacent vertebrae. It's commonly used to treat cervical disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis.
• Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR): Instead of fusion, this procedure involves replacing a diseased cervical disc with an artificial one. ADR maintains more natural neck movement compared to fusion.
• Posterior Cervical Laminectomy: This surgery involves removing the lamina (part of the vertebra) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, commonly used for treating spinal stenosis or cervical myelopathy.
• Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy: This procedure is done to enlarge the nerve root canal to relieve nerve root compression, often due to herniated discs or bone spurs.
• Cervical Laminoplasty: In this procedure, the spinal canal is enlarged to relieve pressure on the spinal cord while preserving the protective bony arch of the vertebrae. It’s used for cervical stenosis and myelopathy.
• Cervical Spine Fusion: Apart from ACDF, there are other fusion techniques, including posterior cervical fusion, used to stabilize the neck and alleviate pain caused by movement.
• Cervical Corpectomy: This involves removing a vertebral body along with adjacent discs to decompress the spinal cord and nerves, typically followed by fusion to stabilize the spine.
• Minimally Invasive Cervical Spine Surgery: Techniques that use smaller incisions and cause less disruption to surrounding tissues for various cervical conditions.
• Spinal Tumor Resection: Surgical removal of benign or malignant tumors in the cervical region.
• Fracture Repair and Stabilization: In cases of traumatic cervical spine injuries, surgeries are performed to stabilize the spine and prevent further damage.

Key Advantages

• Pain Relief and Improved Functionality: Both anterior and posterior cervical spine surgeries aim to alleviate pain, restore stability, and improve overall function.
• Prevention of Neurological Complications: By addressing issues that may be compressing the spinal cord or nerves, these surgeries can help prevent further neurological deficits.
• Restoration of Spinal Alignment: Surgical intervention aims to restore proper spinal alignment, which is crucial for long-term spinal health.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: With improved spinal health and reduced pain, individuals often experience an overall improvement in their quality of life.

Call 011-42888888 to book an appointment with a specialist at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.