Neck pain alone typically isn’t a neurosurgical problem, but it may be a symptom of a serious spine condition if you’re experiencing neck pain that:
- radiates to the shoulders, arms, or hands
- includes tingling, weakness or numbness in the arms or hands
Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Discectomy (Foraminotomy)
Conditions
You may experience this type of neck pain if you have any of the following conditions that narrow the space where the nerve exits the spinal canal:
- compressed cervical nerve roots
- protruding or ruptured discs
- bone spurs
- thickened joints
Procedure
A posterior cervical discectomy relieves the symptoms of a compressed or pinched nerve by enlarging the space where the spinal nerve root exits the spine. A small incision is made in the back of the neck over the affected nerve area. Dilators are passed through muscle and replaced with a tubular-shaped retractor. Using a fiber optic light source and magnified vision and working through the tubular retractor, a small opening is made in the vertebral arch that forms the roof of the spinal column. The nerve root is then decompressed and the herniated disc can be removed.
More than 95% of patients experience immediate improvement or complete relief of their pain after surgery. Pain is minimal and can be controlled with oral medication so that most patients return home the day of surgery.
Schedule an Appointment
If you’re experiencing this type of neck pain, we can help bring you relief. For an appointment or more information, call (865) 331-2835.