CERVICAL DISC HERNIA SURGERY

CERVICAL DISC HERNIA SURGERY

What is cervical disc hernia?

It occurs as a displacement of the disc structure surrounded by a solid ligament which acts as cushion between the spinal bones of the neck region. Displaced disc can cause severe pain by compressing the nerve tissues around the disc. The most common symptom in the cervical disc hernia is neck and arm pain and numbness in the arms and hands. Depending on the nerve roots that herniated disc compresses, it is possible to see loss of strength in the muscles and numbness in certain skin areas. Most of the cervical hernias are caused by discs joining the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. The cervical hernias can be seen at any age, although it is more common in individuals around 40 years of age. Cervical disc hernia is more frequent in men, but the frequency in men and women is close.

Treatment of cervical disc hernia

Rest, pain reliever and muscle relaxant medications, use of soft neck support, physical therapy, exercise and interventional pain treatments in the treatment of cervical disc hernia usually heals without surgery. Decreased neck pain patients should strengthen their neck muscles with a regular exercise program. If the pressure on the nerve of the neck is advanced, the pain is unbearable or there is a progressive loss of strength then the cervical disc hernia surgery can be considered as a treatment option. The patient must be evaluated in detail by the brain surgeon before deciding on the cervical hernia operation. Some tests, such as physical examination by the brain surgeon, evaluation of the waist region MR and, if necessary, EMG, are assessments that can be performed by the physician before the surgery.

Cervical Disc Hernia Surgery

Cervical disc hernia surgery is performed to remove the pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots from the herniated disc causing pain or loss of strength in arms. Microdiscectomy is the most common method for cervical disc hernia surgery. The operation takes about 1 hour. After cervical disc hernia surgery, patients can walk after about 4-6 hours and return to their normal daily lives after about 7-10 days.

Patients should be thoroughly informed about the operation before cervical disc hernia surgery and the informed consent form should be taken. Before the cervical disc hernia surgery, the anesthesiologist evaluates whether the patients are suitable for the operation or not, with blood test, lung film and ECG results. The patient who is suitable for the operation is treated by the most appropriate operation method to be selected by the brain surgeon.

Methods of Cervical Disc Hernia Surgery

There are two different approaches to cervical disc hernia surgery, front and back. The method that is frequently applied in the treatment is the microdiscectomy method applied in the front.

Cervical Microdiscectomy

The method that the surgeon uses a microscope in the surgery is the microdiscectomy and the frontal approach is preferred. The microscope illuminates and enlarges the tissues to be operated and makes it appear more clearly. The patient is laid on his back and is anesthetized with general anesthesia. Generally, the herniated area is reached by passing the subcutaneous tissues with a cut of 4-5 cm by the right side of the neck. The disc of the level of the hernia is discharged by the microdiscectomy method, and the prosthesis or the bone tissue taken from the body is inserted to fix the two vertebrae.

Laser discectomy

Laser discectomy can be applied to early cervical disc hernia patients. Laser treatment is not performed if the connective tissue surrounding the disc between the spine bones is torn and the discrete contents are displaced into the spinal canal. A long needle is inserted into the neck region to enter the vertebrae. Get a laser wire through this needle. With the laser beams, the gel form in the disc is evaporated to pull backward the herniated disc and the nerve pressure is removed. Success is achieved in 1 patient for every 2 treated patients.