What Surgery Will I Need for a Cervical Herniated Disc?
The cervical discs cushion the vertebrae in the upper spine in the neck. A herniated disc, also called a slipped disc, occurs when the disc slips out of place, according to Medline Plus. Generally, the problem will resolve on its own, but severe cases may require surgery.
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Type of Surgery
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The most common surgery to repair a cervical herniated disc is an anterior cervical discectomy and spinal fusion to remove the slipped disc and replace it with a bone graft, according to Spine-Health.
Disc Removal
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With the patient under anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the neck, accesses the spinal column and uses x-ray to identify the correct disc before removing it.
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Post-Operative Recovery
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This procedure can be done as an outpatient surgery, but it may also require a short hospital stay, according to the Mayo Clinic. Pain at the incision site is common and may be treated with painkillers.
Long-Term Recovery
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Pain and numbness in the arm may occur for several weeks to months after the surgery. Neck pain can last longer and the patient may need a neck brace.
Risks
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In rare cases, infection, excessive bleeding, spinal cord damage and injury to the esophagus resulting in difficulty swallowing and speech disturbances may occur, according to Spine-Health.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Shaheen Lakhan
