Disc Surgery
Cervical spinal disc surgery is used to correct the part of the spine in the neck, including problems with the bones (vertebrae), disks, and nerves.
For injuries where disc surgery is recommended, a doctor (usually a neurologist, orthopedist, or neurosurgeon) has determined the exact location of the trouble and has tested sensation, muscle strength and reflexes, and perform a number of other special tests to determine where the problem lies.
The treating doctor will also usually order X-rays and an MRI, which will help confirm the diagnosis and will help the physician develop an appropriate treatment plan in addition to disc surgery.
Disc surgery is generally used when conservative therapy fails, if the pain and weakness become progressively worse, or if there is evidence that the spinal cord itself is being compressed. Patients with spinal pain in the neck or back are usually treated conservatively before disc surgery is considered. Bed rest, traction, anti-inflammatory medications (non steroid and steroid), physical therapy, braces, and exercise are often prescribed.
Disc surgery is done while the patient is under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free). An incision is made over the troubled area. The bone that curves around and covers the spinal cord (lamina) is removed (laminectomy) and the tissue that is causing pressure on the nerve or spinal cord is removed.
For more information on disc surgery and other spinal proceedures, visit the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center website.
Disc Surgery
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and North Carolina Baptist Hospital. All rights reserved.
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
(336) 716-2011