Cervical Conditions and Procedures

Cervical Spondylosis

Neck pain can be caused by many things—but is most often related to getting older. Like the rest of the body, the disks and joints in the neck (cervical spine) slowly degenerate as we age. Cervical spondylosis, commonly called arthritis of the neck, is the medical term for these age-related, wear-and-tear changes that occur over time.

Cervical spondylosis is extremely common. More than 85 percent of people over the age of 60 are affected. The condition most often causes pain and stiffness in the neck—although many people with cervical spondylosis experience no noticeable symptoms. In most cases, cervical spondylosis responds well to conservative treatment that includes medication and physical therapy. In the absence of nerve compression, this condition does not improve with surgery.

For more information on Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck), CLICK HERE

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a “pinched nerve” occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. This commonly occurs in a tunnel called the foramen. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder, as well as muscle weakness and numbness that travels down the arm and into the hand.

Cervical radiculopathy is often caused by “wear and tear” changes that occur in the spine as we age, such as arthritis. In younger people, it is most often caused by a sudden injury that results in a herniated disk.

In most cases, cervical radiculopathy responds well to conservative treatment that includes medication and physical therapy.

However, sometimes surgery is required. The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. Other goals of surgery include:

  • Improving neck pain
  • Maintaining stability of the spine
  • Improving alignment of the spine
  • Preserving range of motion in the neck

In most cases, surgery for cervical radiculopathy involves removing pieces of bone or soft tissue (such as a herniated disk)—or both. This relieves pressure by creating more space for the nerves to exit the spinal canal.

There are three surgical procedures commonly performed to treat cervical radiculopathy. They are:

  • Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
  • Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
  • Posterior Cervical Laminoforaminotomy
Additional information about surgical treatment options for Cervical Radiculopathy


Anterior Cervical Fusion

Animation courtesy Visual Health Solutions, Inc.

Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a neck condition that arises when the spinal cord becomes compressed—or squeezed—due to the wear-and-tear changes that occur in the spine as we age. The condition commonly occurs in patients over the age of 50.

Because the spinal cord carries nerve impulses to many regions in the body, patients with CSM can experience a wide variety of symptoms. Weakness and numbness in the hands and arms, loss of balance and coordination, and neck pain can all result when the normal flow of nerve impulses through the spinal cord is interrupted. This condition most often requires surgical decompression and fusion.

The goal of surgery is to relieve symptoms by “decompressing,” or relieving pressure on, the spinal cord. This involves removing the pieces of bone or soft tissue (such as a herniated disk) that may be taking up space in the spinal canal. This relieves pressure by creating more space for the spinal cord.

Additional information about surgical treatment options for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy