How Are Bone Spurs Removed From the Back of the Neck Area?
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What Are Bone Spurs?
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A bone spur is a growth that develops on bones and causes pain due to its constant contact with tissue, nerves and other body parts. Bone spurs consist of calcium and tend to develop in the body as one ages. Additional causes of bone spurs include irritation of joints and the onset of arthritis. Bone spurs are normally detected via physical checkups with a physician. After the doctor notes the type of pain the person is suffering, he may order the patient to undergo a series of x-rays and MRIs. X-Rays will show any growth and protrusions of bone spurs.
Bone Spur Development
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Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, have a tendency to develop at the joints where bones connect. Bone spurs are often found to develop on the heels of the feet. Spurs can grow and remain undetected in the body, provided they are causing no pain. Once friction begins, osteophytes can cause pain and loss of motion. They can grow on the spine, in the neck, the shoulders and in the heels and the knees.
Bone spurs can also break off of the bone where they have developed. These types of bone spurs are called "loose bodies" and will float in and around the joint until sticking in the joint's lining. Loose bodies can cause the joint to lock if they float and embed themselves as obstacles, preventing full joint movement.
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Bone Spur Treatments
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Bone spurs in the neck are treated with several options. The first, given that the spur and its irritation are mild, would be use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, physical therapy is prescribed to gain strength and flexibility in the neck area affected. Injections of cortisone into the affected neck joint are also prescribed as treatment.
Bone Spur Removal From Neck
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If surgery is required, a patient undergoes pre-surgery preparation which includes consultation, bone spur analysis and the application of a local anesthetic and an intravenous drip. An incision is then made at the area where the bone spurs are located. A surgeon may make several small incisions, allowing the insertion of several tools to remove the spur. Tubes can be inserted which push the muscles out of the way, as opposed to cutting through them. Once the muscles are pushed out of the way, the surgical removal of the bone spur begins. The osteophyte is severed and any pieces are removed. Once it is removed, the tubes are retracted, the muscles move back into their places and the incisions are stitched. The surgery for bone spurs on the neck is considered minimally invasive and is an outpatient surgery. While patients can recuperate quickly, there may be a long period of physical therapy after the bone spur removal.
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