Cervical fusion surgery – Types of methods used for surgery

Living with pain in the neck can become difficult and challenging for those who know the problems it can create even in day to day life. In some cases, condition deteriorates to an extent that the pain starts hampering daily activities. It is only when patients find it difficult to accomplish small tasks that they seek the opinion of an orthopedic surgeon or doctor. Neck pain treatment, when done timely, can help you live normal life without any hindrance. Only in extreme and severe cases where patient fails to show any kind of improvement that surgeon recommends cervical fusion surgery procedure.

It refers to a surgical procedure which joins or fuses selected bones in the cervical spine (neck). There are different methods through which this surgical procedure is performed.

•  Metal implants are used for holding the vertebra together until the growth of new bones in between them.
• An entire vertebra can be removed in this procedure, and then fused.
• Bones for surgery can be taken from either a bone bank or patient’s own body. It is used for making a bridge between those vertebras that are adjacent or next to each other. It is this bone graft which stimulates new bone growth. Surgeons also make use of artificial material for fusion.
• Doctor can remove entire vertebrae and then fuse the spine.
• Metal plates can also be screwed into the damaged bone and then adjacent vertebrae are fused.
•  Also spinal disc can be removed, and the adjacent vertebrae joined together.

The surgery can be performed by making an incision either on the back, posteriors; or the front, anterior of the neck.

There are several reasons to perform cervical fusion such as for treating conditions like misalignment of the vertebrae, an injury, preventing a bone fracture or to stabilize the neck from causing damage or instability to the spinal cord which may lead to paralysis.  No matter for what reason you have to undergo cervical fusion surgery, Dr. Erik Bendiks is one name you can rely on if you are suffering from neck pain.