Cervical Spine Disorders

A small horizontal incision is made in front of the neck to remove a single disc. After the requisite incision, the soft tissues are separated and the intervertebral disc and bone spurs are removed. This, however, leaves gaps or spaces which may be left open or filled with a small piece of bone or device through spinal fusion.

The surgeon removes a part of the vertebral body which relieves the pressure on the spinal cord. This is done together with anterior cervical discectomy. The incision is larger as one or more vertebral bodies may be removed along with the adjoining discs. Using spinal fusion, the space between vertebrae is filled via small pieces of bone or device.

It is performed through an incision made at the back of the neck usually in the middle. A high-speed burr is used to remove some of the facet joints. This reveals the nerve root under the facet joint which is gently moved aside to free up as well as aid in removing the disc herniation.

A small incision is made in the middle of the neck to remove the back bony part of the vertebrae called the lamina. The removal of the bone creates space and allows movement of thickened ligament, bone spur formation, and disc material which may be pressurizing the spinal cord or the nerve roots. To allow the nerves to pass through the spinal passage in the vertebrae, the former may also be enlarged.