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What Surgery Will I Need for a Cervical Herniated Disc?

The cervical discs cushion the vertebrae in the upper spine in the neck. A herniated disc, also called a slipped disc, occurs when the disc slips out of place, according to Medline Plus. Generally, the problem will resolve on its own, but severe cases may require surgery.

  1. Type of Surgery

    • The most common surgery to repair a cervical herniated disc is an anterior cervical discectomy and spinal fusion to remove the slipped disc and replace it with a bone graft, according to Spine-Health.

    Disc Removal

    • With the patient under anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the neck, accesses the spinal column and uses x-ray to identify the correct disc before removing it.

    Post-Operative Recovery

    • This procedure can be done as an outpatient surgery, but it may also require a short hospital stay, according to the Mayo Clinic. Pain at the incision site is common and may be treated with painkillers.

    Long-Term Recovery

    • Pain and numbness in the arm may occur for several weeks to months after the surgery. Neck pain can last longer and the patient may need a neck brace.

    Risks

    • In rare cases, infection, excessive bleeding, spinal cord damage and injury to the esophagus resulting in difficulty swallowing and speech disturbances may occur, according to Spine-Health.

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