In the axial skeleton, the cervical spine is the most flexible anatomic region. Different segments of the cervical spine give us the potential to conduct complicated neck motions like head tilting or turning. And also to carry weight or absorb impact while protecting the delicate spinal cord and nerve roots that pass through the cervical vertebra.
Cervical Spine Disorders
Cervical spine disorders are a problem for many adults. The cervical spine contains many different anatomic structures, including muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints. Each of these structures has nerve endings that can detect painful problems when they occur.
Causes
- Age
- Sports Injury
- Accidents
- Being overweight and not exercising
- Having a job that requires heavy lifting or a lot of bending and twisting
- Past neck injury (often several years before)
- Past spine surgery
- Ruptured or slipped disk
- Severe arthritis
- Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis
Symptoms
Pain: When the different parts of the cervical spine injured or start to wear out, your neck becomes a significant source of pain and discomfort.
Weakness: Weakness is not one of the more common symptoms of a cervical spine disorder, but when it is present it indicates a relatively more severe case of nerve compression, and it does require in-depth investigation.
Numbness: Numbness is also a very common and significant symptom of a cervical disorder. However, it is a poorly understood and difficult to describe a symptom.
Treatments
Posterior Microdiscectomy
This procedure is performed through a vertical incision in the posterior (back) of your neck, generally in the middle. This approach is considered for a large soft disc herniation that is located on the side of the spinal cord. A high-speed burr used for removing some of the facet joints, and the nerve root identified under the facet joint. The nerve root gently moved to the side to free up the disc herniation.
Posterior Cervical Laminectomy
This procedure requires a small incision in the middle of the neck to remove bone spur formations or disc material. The foramen, the passage in the vertebrae of the spine through which the spinal nerve roots travel enlarged, to allow the nerves to pass through.
The surgeon will remove a section of the lamina (the back bony part of the vertebrae) and ligament to find the exact area of the compression. An operating microscope used to create an opening, and part of the lamina removed to take pressure off the nerves and spinal cord. If needed, bone spurs, tissue and any disc fragments causing the compression also removed.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy
This operation is performed on the neck to relieve pressure on one or more nerve roots, or on the spinal cord. The cervical spine is reached through a small incision in the anterior (front) of your neck. If only one disc is removed, it will typically be a small horizontal incision in the crease of the skin. If the operation is more extensive, it may require a slanted or longer incision. After the soft tissues of the neck separated, the intervertebral disc and bone spur removed. The space left between the vertebrae either left open or filled with a small piece of bone through spinal fusion.
Anterior Cervical Corpectomy
This operation is performed in conjunction with the anterior cervical discectomy. The corpectomy performed for multi-level cervical stenosis with spinal cord compression caused by bone spur formations. In this procedure, the neurosurgeon removes a part of the vertebral body to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. One or more vertebral bodies removed including the adjacent discs. The incision is larger. The space between the vertebrae is filled using a small piece of bone through spinal fusion. Because of the removal of more bone, the recovery process for the fusion to heal and the neck to become stable takes longer than with anterior cervical discectomy. The surgeon may select to use a metal plate that is screwed into the front of the vertebra to help the healing process.
Cervical Artificial Replacement
This procedure allows us to decompress the nerves in your neck without compromising your ability to move your neck. Traditionally, orthopedic surgeons treat neck pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord with fusil orthopedic which unites affected vertebrae into one solid bone. It resolves pain but replaces it with neck stiffness. Cervical artificial replacement not only resolves your pain, but it also preserves your neck range of motion. This unique motion-sparing technique also allows you to return to your normal activities faster and with fewer postoperative safety measures.
Spine Rehabilitation
Spinal rehabilitation is the discipline of medicine that guides the physical, psychological, and social recovery of individuals who have become partially or totally disabled because of spinal disease or injury. Because the muscles and joints of the spine do not readily observe, the need for rehabilitation from spinal disorders recognized slowly. And rehabilitation gains have been harder to measure by objective standards. Manual or manipulative therapy may be effective for the treatment of pain and restoration of movement in the short term. But it has not proven effective in the long term.