Cervical discectomy is a surgical procedure that involves relieving the pressure placed on nerve roots and/or the spinal cord by a herniated disc or bone spurs in the neck - a condition referred to as nerve root compression.

What Is A Cervical Discectomy?

Cervical refers to the 7 vertebrae of the neck. Discs are the spongy, cartilaginous pads between each vertebra, and ectomy means “to take out”. In a cervical discectomy, the surgeon accesses the cervical spine through a small incision in the neck and removes all or part of the disc – and/or in some cases bone material - that’s pressing on the nerves and causing pain.

Why Do I Need This Procedure?

If you have a herniated disc, this means that the nucleus pulposus– the soft, gel-like center of the disc - has pushed through the annulus fibrosus, the disc’s tough, outer ring. Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, can form when the joints of the spine calcify.

Pressure placed on nerve roots, ligaments or the spinal cord by a herniated disc or bone spur may cause:

• Pain in the neck and/or arms
• Lack of coordination
• Numbness or weakness in the arms, forearms or fingers.

Pressure placed on the spinal cord as it passes through the cervical spine can be serious, since most of the nerves for the rest of the body (e.g., arms, chest, abdomen, legs) must pass through the neck from the brain. A cervical discectomy can ease pressure on the nerves, ultimately providing pain relief.

How Is An Anterior Cervical Discectomy Performed?

The surgeon will access your cervical vertebrae either from the front of the neck (anterior cervical discectomy). The anterior approach is most commonly used; however, in cases where disc fragments or bone spurs have pushed into the back of the spine and are pressing on the spinal nerve, your surgeon may decide to take a posterior approach.

Knowing what to expect during a cervical discectomy can help you face your surgery with confidence. Here’s what will take place in:

An Anterior Cervical Discectomy:

Through a small incision made near the front of the neck, your surgeon will:

• Gently pull aside soft tissue – skin, fat and muscle – to expose the source of neural compression;
• Remove the source of the compression - disc material (and in some instances vertebral bone) – from around the spinal cord and nerves to give them more space.
• Ease soft tissues back into place and close the incision.

An anterior discectomy also may involve fusion. Learn more about anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. This involves placing bone graft or bone graft substitute between two or more affected vertebrae to promote bone growth between the vertebral bodies. The graft material acts as a binding medium and helps to maintain normal disc height – as the body heals, the vertebral bone and bone graft eventually grow together to join the vertebrae and stabilize the spine.

How Long Will It Take Me To Recover?

Your surgeon will have a specific post-operative recovery/exercise plan to help you return to your normal activity level as soon as possible. The amount of time that you have to stay in the hospital will depend on this treatment plan. You typically will be up and walking in the hospital by the end of the first day after the surgery. In some instances, this procedure may be done on an outpatient basis.

Your return to work will depend on how well your body is healing and the type of work/activity level you plan to return to.

Work closely with your spinal surgeon to determine the appropriate recovery protocol for you, and follow his or her instructions “to the letter” to optimize the healing process.

Are There Any Potential Risks Or Complications?

All treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient. Results may vary. Complications such as infection, nerve damage, blood clots, blood loss and bowel and bladder problems, along with complications associated with anesthesia, are some of the potential risks of spinal surgery. A potential risk inherent to spinal fusion is failure of the vertebral bone and graft to properly fuse, a condition that may require additional surgery.

Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse effects, clinical results and other important medical information that pertains to the anterior cervical discectomy procedure.