Anterior cervical Discectomy /Corpectomy and fusion
Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy is a condition where the spinal cord in neck or the nerves coming out of the spinal cord are pinched causing damage to them. Patients may present to us with a combination of features like pain running down the arm, clumsiness or tingling and numbness in hands and poor balance while walking. We generally perform a MRI and Xray of the cervical spine to confirm our diagnosis and depending on the findings and severity of symptoms offer surgical treatment.
Procedure of surgery
A horizontal cut is made in one of the skin creases of the neck of about 3 to 4 cm and the access to the offending disc is gained. Using high resolution operating microscope the pressure is taken off the spinal cord and the nerves and the space is filled with a suitable Titanium or PEEK implant. We put in dissolvable stitches underneath the skin which donot require removal and the patient can have shower from the next day.
The patient is started on oral diet on the night of surgery and allowed to mobilise out of bed the very next day. Most patients are discharged 1 or 2 days after surgery.
Home care after surgery
The patient is shown some simple exercises to carry out at home and is encouraged to walk and gradually return to normal activities over the next 3 to 4 weeks. We ask for a follow up visit with the doctor 4 weeks after the surgery
Images showing Anterior cervical Corpectomy and fusion done for cervical myelopathy
