All About Cervical Spine Surgery

The neck is a portion of the spinal column, also referred to as the backbone, that runs through the rest of the body. The C1–C7 vertebrae that make up the cervical spine (neck area) were connected by intervertebral discs. These discs allow spine mobility and serve as shock absorbers when people move around. Two spinal nerves leave each level of the vertebra via tiny openings known as foramina (one to the left and one to the right). All parts of the body experience sensation and movement due to the muscles, skin, or tissues that all these nerves serve. Strong muscles and ligaments joined to vertebrae maintain the delicate spinal cord, including nerves.

Cervical Stenosis

The major reason for cervical stenosis occurs whenever the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord is ageing. The spinal discs that separate & support the vertebrae may deteriorate or herniate. The space between the vertebrae narrows, and the discs stop serving as shock absorbers. The spine’s bones, as well as ligaments, also grow and lose some of their flexibility at the same time. The spinal canal narrows as a result of these modifications. Furthermore, the degenerative modifications brought on by cervical stenosis might impact the vertebrae by promoting the development of bone spurs that compress the nerve roots.

Cervical Stenosis Symptoms

Neck discomfort could be brought on by disc degeneration, spinal canal narrowing, arthritis, and, in extremely rare circumstances, malignancy or meningitis. These signs include:

• Arm or neck discomfort
• Upper body numbness and weakness in the hands
• Unstable walking gait
• Leg spasms of muscles
• Loss of finger, hand, and arm coordination
• Loss of strength in the hands or arms
• Dropping objects and losing hand dexterity

How & When to Get Medical Help

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above or the preceding, you should visit a neurosurgeon for Cervical Spine Surgery.

• Neck pain following a head or neck injury or stroke
• A fever or headache follows neck pain.
• Inability to touch chin to the chest due to stiff neck
• Progression of arm or leg numbness or weakness
• Pain persists following conservative treatment.

For proper treatment and diagnosis recommendations for major neck issues, Adelaide Neurosurgery Centre physicians must be contacted as well as frequently a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon. If you suddenly start to feel weak, you should go to the emergency department for care because putting off treatment could result in long-term brain damage.

Testing & Diagnosis

A neurosurgeon will diagnose you based on your medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and test findings, which may include the ones listed below. The neurosurgeon should establish whether findings on imaging examinations correlate with symptoms because some degree of arthritis and spinal degeneration is normal with ageing.

A computer produces a diagnostic image after it analyses and integrates numerous thin-cut X-rays that can reveal the shape and size of the spinal canal, its contents, and the surrounding structures, particularly bones. The neurosurgeon can learn about bone abnormalities from the CT scan, including bone spurs, osteophytes, the presence of fusion, and even bone loss from infection or cancer.

Conclusion

Following surgery, the doctor will provide specific instructions and typically prescribe painkillers. Depending on the kind of surgery, the doctor will assist in determining when the patient can resume typical activities like going to work, driving, including exercising. Upon surgery, some individuals might benefit from guided rehabilitation and physical therapy. Pain is a clue that the patient may have to slow down, but discomfort is expected as they gradually resume normal activities.

The neurosurgeon can decide to order spine x-rays to evaluate alignment, the instrumentation condition and the fusion or to usually keep track of the spine levels close to the surgery.