Neck Surgery – Spine Surgeon in Columbia, South Carolina

What is neck surgery?

Neck surgery is commonly required when medications, physical therapy, and rest don’t help to eliminate or reduce neck pain, neck surgery is commonly the next step toward recovery. Considered a last resort, Dr. Peelle would prefer a patient see improvement through noninvasive procedures before they start treating a patient surgically. For those who don’t see improvement, however, neck surgery is often a ticket toward living pain-free.

Did you know…

The cause of neck pain varies from person to person. Because of this, there are several types of neck surgeries.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is neck surgery considered?

Neck surgery is often an option for patients who have not experienced improvements through non-invasive treatments. Most commonly, this procedure can treat a nerve root that’s been pinched by bone spurs or extraneous materials that are the result of a disk rupturing. About 90% of patients who have surgery experience notable improvement in their quality of life.

Patients who suffer from spinal stenosis, pressure on the spine that is the result of bone spurs, can also be treated through neck surgery. Finally, this procedure is a good option for those who need to keep their vertebrae from grinding as a result of degenerative disk disease.

How is this procedure performed?

There are several types of neck surgeries out there, with each one designed to treat a different issue. An anterior cervical discectomy is often used to alleviate pain associated with a pinched nerve or herniated disk. Patients experiencing pain that is the result of pinched nerves might need a laminectomy, while cervical spinal fusion could be the better choice if a person’s vertebrae are grinding against each other.

What are the risks of neck surgery?

Any surgery around the spinal cord is considered dangerous. This is why it is crucial you have Dr. Peelle perform the procedure. During the procedure, patients can experience damage to the arteries and veins that go from the neck to the brain. They also might experience damage to the nerves or spinal cord. An infection to the bone graft or around the incision site, failure of vertebrae to fuse together, and displacement of the graft are also possible complications.

Although complications can be scary, we encourage patients to learn about the risks and benefits of neck surgery and make the best choice for their needs; one that is not motivated by fear.