Specifically for patients who suffer from chronic neck pain, we offer a minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure to help alleviate pain and stabilize the cervical (neck) spine. As you research treatment options for your chronic neck pain, we encourage you to reach out to our care team with any questions you might have about the procedures we offer.

What is our minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure?

Our minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure is an alternative to traditional open neck surgery and open neck fusion.

Your spine is comprised of several vertebrae stacked from the base of your skull to your tailbone. In between each vertebra is a disc that allows the spine to bend and move without affecting the nerves along the spinal cord. When a disc begins to bulge or become herniated, the nerves in the spinal cord might become impacted and cause pain. Additionally, if a vertebra slips or has a deformity, it might compress a nearby nerve and result in pain.

The purpose of our minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure is to decompress the affected nerve and stabilize the spine through a small incision in the back of the neck. During this procedure, our surgeon will make a small incision, usually about 1-inch, in the back of the neck at the site of the spine condition. Once the incision is made, the surgeon will fuse together two or more vertebrae to help stabilize the spine and relieve symptoms associated with compressed nerves, spinal instability and severely herniated discs.

Common symptoms treated by our minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion procedure

Symptoms may vary depending on the spine condition causing the neck pain and the severity of the condition. Generally speaking, individuals with cervical spine conditions might experience the following symptoms:

• Weakness in hands and arms
• Radiating or shooting pain
• Numbness
• Radiating tingling
• Localized pain
• Inability to turn or move without pain
• Trouble with extremity control