Chronic neck pain can prevent you from doing the activities and hobbies that you once loved. When left untreated, chronic neck pain can radiate to the arm and hand. This may ultimately result in a lower quality of life because of your inability to function with pain. Oftentimes if this is the case posterior cervical fusion surgery may be recommended.
At BEST Health System, we understand the pain and frustration you are experiencing with your chronic neck pain. Many times, this pain is caused by a common spine condition that can be treated with one of our minimally invasive spine surgeries. We offer a less invasive alternative to traditional open neck surgery by providing a more precise surgery that leads to better results.
The Advantages of Minimally Invasive
Minimally invasive procedures employ muscle-sparing techniques. This leads to a decrease in overall risk and eliminates the need for an overnight hospital stay. Our outpatient procedures are performed by our board-certified surgeons, Dr. Girton and Dr. Abbott.
Specifically for patients who suffer from chronic neck pain, we offer a minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure to help alleviate pain and stabilize the cervical (neck) spine. As you research treatment options for your chronic neck pain, we encourage you to reach out to our team with any questions you might have about the procedures we offer.
What is Our Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Fusion Procedure?
Our minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure is an alternative to traditional open-neck surgery and open-neck fusion.
Your spine is comprised of several vertebrae stacked from the base of your skull to your tailbone. In between each vertebra is a disc that allows the spine to bend and move without affecting the nerves along the spinal cord. When a disc begins to bulge or become herniated, the nerves in the spinal cord might become impacted and cause pain. Additionally, if a vertebra slips or has a deformity it might compress a nearby nerve and result in pain.
The purpose of our minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure is to decompress the affected nerve. As well as stabilize the spine through a small incision in the back of the neck. During this procedure, our surgeon will make a small incision, usually about 1 inch, in the back of the neck at the site of the spine condition. Once the incision is made, the surgeon will fuse together two or more vertebrae to help stabilize the spine. The result will relieve symptoms associated with compressed nerves, spinal instability, and severely herniated discs.
Common Symptoms Treated By Our Procedures
Symptoms may vary depending on the spine condition causing the neck pain and the severity of the condition. Generally speaking, individuals with cervical spine conditions might experience the following symptoms:
- Weakness in the hands and arms
- Radiating or shooting pain
- Numbness
- Radiating tingling
- Localized pain
- Inability to turn or move without pain
- Trouble with extremity control
Contact BEST Health System today if you would like to learn more about us or how we can help you!
