Your neck is vulnerable to stress and injuries that lead to conditions such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis. When nonsurgical care doesn’t help, the board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Spine Center Atlanta perform neck spine surgery to repair the underlying problem. As spine specialists, the team has extensive experience helping patients overcome neck pain. To schedule an in-person or telemedicine appointment, call one of the seven offices in Atlanta, Savannah, Conyers, Augusta, Macon, and Decatur, Georgia, or book online today.

When might I need neck spine surgery?

Before considering surgery, the team at Spine Center Atlanta develops a customized treatment plan that includes conservative therapies. You may need a neck brace, medications, steroid injections, physical therapy, or other medical treatments.

If your neck pain persists, or you have a severe problem at the time of your first visit, your physician talks with you about surgery. In many cases, surgery to repair the underlying problem is the only way to restore normal movement, stabilize the spine, and alleviate your pain.

Conditions that frequently end up needing neck spine surgery include:

• Neck fracture
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Cervical deformity

Spine Center Atlanta helps you make a fully informed decision by explaining the type of surgery you need and what to expect during your recovery.

What type of neck spine surgery might I receive?

The experienced surgeons at Spine Center Atlanta specialize in neck surgeries such as:

Anterior cervical discectomy

An anterior cervical discectomy treats a herniated, bulging, or degenerated disc in your neck (cervical spine). Anterior refers to the incision location, which is in the front of your neck.

During the discectomy, your surgeon removes the damaged disc. This relieves your symptoms because the disc no longer presses against the nerves. They also take care of any other problems. For example, they may remove a bone spur.

After the disc is gone, your surgeon restores spinal strength and stability by fusing the two vertebrae. They put a bone graft in place of the disc and secure the two bones using rods and screws. The graft then promotes bone growth, and the two vertebrae fuse together.

Posterior cervical laminectomy

A posterior cervical laminectomy also decompresses the nerves, but it treats a condition called spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis occurs when the area inside the spinal canal narrows. Though the narrowing develops due to several different conditions, they all pinch the nerves.

The posterior approach means your surgeon makes the incision on the backside of your neck. To perform the laminectomy, they remove a section of the vertebra called the lamina.

Your surgeon also removes other structures pressing the nerve, such as thickened ligaments and bone spurs. You may also need a fusion after a laminectomy, but that’s not always necessary.

Will I have minimally invasive neck spine surgery?

In most cases, the team at Spine Center Atlanta performs minimally invasive neck spine surgery at their state-of-the-art, accredited surgery center. Compared with open surgery, minimally invasive procedures cause less post-op pain and promote a faster recovery.

To learn more about neck spine surgery, call Spine Center Atlanta or book an appointment online today.