ANTERIOR CERVICAL DECOMPRESSION AND FUSION

When symptoms of cervical radiculopathy persist or worsen despite nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery. The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. Other goals of  surgery include:

• Improving neck pain
• Maintaining stability of the spine
• Improving alignment of the spine
• Preserving range of motion in the neck

In most cases, surgery for cervical radiculopathy involves removing pieces of bone or soft tissue (such as a herniated disk)—or both. This relieves pressure by creating more space for the nerves to exit the spinal canal.

POSTERIOR CERVICAL SURGERY

Occasionally cervical disc herniation can be address posteriorly. Cervical foraminotomy is the specific name for the procedure performed from the back to alleviate pressure on nerves which are compressed due to a one sided disc herniation. A small hole is made on one side of thelamina, the bone in the back, and any bone or soft tissue that is compressing the nerve is removed. The bone that is removed surgically is not important for the structural support of the spine so removing this bone does not lead to instability or dysfunction.

When symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) perist or worsen despite nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery.The goal of surgery is to relieve symptoms by "decompressing," or relieving pressure on, the spinal cord. This involves removing the pieces of bone or soft tissue (such as a herniated disk) that may be taking up space in the spinal canal. This relieves pressure by creating more space for the spinal cord.

POSTERIOR CERVICAL LAMINOPLASTY

This is the name for the procedure performed from the back to alleviate pressure on nerves which are compressed from stenosis. The back part of the spine, the lamina, is opened and the compression is decreased. The bone may be secured in the new, opened position with bone or plates and screws.

POSTERIOR CERVICAL LAMINECTOMY AND FUSION

fusion: This is the name for the procedure performed from the back to alleviate pressure on nerves which are compressed from arthritis. The back part of the spine, the lamina, is removed in part or completely, and the extra soft tissue that has overgrown and compressing the nerves is removed. Since removal of this bone can weaken the structure of the spine, a fusion is then done with screws and rods to strengthen the spine and to decrease pain.

LUMBAR LAMINECTOMY

A laminectomy is the specific name for the procedure to alleviate pressure from nerves which are compressed from stenosis. The back part of the spine, the lamina, is removed in part or completely, and the extra soft tissue that has overgrown and which is compressing the nerves is removed. The bone that is removed is not important for the structural support of the spine so removing this bone does not lead to instability or dysfunction.

LUMBAR MICRODISCECTOMY

A microdiscectomy is the specific name for the procedure to alleviate pressure on nerves which are compressed due to a disc herniation. The procedure involves removing a small amount of bone to allow access to the spinal canal.The bone that is removed is not important for the structural support of the spine so removing this bone does not lead to instability or dysfunction.

Once the small amount of bone has been removed, it is then possible to remove the herniated disc and other soft tissues around the nerve. The remainder of the disc is left in place to provide motion and stability.