01 — Overview
The neck can be approached from the front or from behind. The choice depends on where the compression sits and on the alignment of the cervical spine. Anterior surgery addresses disc and bone spur in front of the spinal cord; posterior surgery is used for compression behind the cord and for particular alignment patterns.
02 — Who it suits
- Cervical radiculopathy that has not settled with non-surgical care
- Myelopathy with hand clumsiness or a change in gait
- Stenosis affecting one or more levels
- Instability from trauma, tumor or inflammatory disease
03 — How it is done
Anteriorly, through a small transverse incision, the disc is removed and replaced with a cage or a disc prosthesis. Posteriorly, laminoplasty or laminectomy with fusion opens the canal from behind. Spinal cord function may be monitored during the procedure.
04 — Recovery
Sore throat or changes in swallowing can occur for a period after anterior surgery. Where surgery is performed for myelopathy, it is generally directed at preventing further progression, and any recovery of function is gradual.
05 — Conditions treated
- Cervical Disc Disease Degeneration or herniation of discs in the neck, leading to pain, stiffness, and neurological symptoms due to nerve compression.
- Spinal Stenosis A narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
- Herniated Disc A condition where the inner gel-like core of a spinal disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer, causing pain and neurological symptoms.
- Spine Trauma Breaks or cracks in the vertebrae caused by trauma, osteoporosis, or other conditions, leading to pain and potential neurological damage.
Timelines and techniques described here are general. Your own plan depends on your anatomy, your imaging and your medical history, and is decided with you at consultation.
