Cervical Spine Surgery

If you need relief from chronic neck pain from trauma or degenerative disease in your upper spine, you can find help at the office of Aizik L. Wolf, MD. As a skilled neurosurgeon, Dr. Wolf performs cervical spine surgery to remove herniated discs or bone fragments pressing on your nerves. He can also stabilize your spine during spinal fusion surgery to keep you pain-free in the long term. Call the  South Miami, Florida, office to schedule a cervical spine surgery consultation or book an appointment online today.

What is cervical spine surgery?

Cervical spine surgery treats painful conditions of the cervical (upper) spine. Surgery typically involves two techniques — decompression and spinal fusion.

Decompression

Decompression surgery involves the removal of a piece of bone or a herniated disc that sits between your vertebrae. These issues can put pressure on your spinal cord or surrounding nerves, causing inflammation, pain, weakness, or numbness in your neck, shoulders, and arms.

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion involves fusing your cervical vertebrae to a bone graft taken from another part of your body or a donor. The fusion helps stabilize your spine and prevent unnecessary movements that trigger pain.

Why would I need cervical spine surgery?

You may be a candidate for cervical spine surgery if you have chronic neck pain from injuries, degenerative disc disease, or spinal instability.

You might also qualify for this type of surgery if you have a deformity in your spine that affects your neck’s range of motion.

Dr. Wolf offers diagnostic technologies in-office to assess the health of your cervical spine and identify the source of your pain. He also reviews your medical history and the severity of your symptoms to determine if you’re a candidate for cervical spine surgery.

What happens during cervical spine surgery?

During cervical spine surgery, Dr. Wolf can take an anterior approach, accessing your upper spine through the front of your neck. This technique causes less muscle trauma and maintains the spine’s normal alignment than a posterior approach through the back of your neck.

After Dr. Wolf removes a portion of the bone or a damaged disc, he places the bone graft alongside your spine. He may use metal plates and screws to hold the graft in place and strengthen the stability of your spine.

After surgery, you can expect to spend time in the hospital for observation and to start your recovery. You may need to wear a neck brace to minimize neck movements but most patients do not. Dr. Wolf also works closely with you to manage your pain.

The length of your hospital stay depends on your overall health and recovery progress but most patients will go home the next day. After discharge, you may need to continue wearing the neck brace at home until Dr. Wolf determines it’s safe for you to resume activities.

Call the office of Aizik L. Wolf, MD, to find out if you’re a candidate for cervical spine surgery, or book an appointment online today.