Surgery for herniated cervical disc – The Two Parts

What is the best type of spine surgery for herniated cervical disc? What is better, anterior or posterior approach?

In this video, Dr. Seth Neubardt explains that after meeting with your surgeon and deciding you need surgery (see “Do I Need Surgery for a Herniated Disc in the Neck?”), the next step is to determine what type of surgery you will have.

Surgeons perform various types of cervical spine surgery for a herniated disc. You could have open surgery or microscopic surgery. Your surgeon may take an anterior (front of the neck) or posterior (back of the neck) approach.

You want to have the most minimally invasive procedure possible that will best meet the objectives, which include removing the herniated disc putting pressure on the nerve or spinal cord and then stabilizing the spine. The most common type of spine surgery used to meet these objectives is an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. See “ What is an ACDF” to learn about this procedure.

The Two Parts of Surgery for a Herniated Cervical Disc

Cervical herniated disc surgery involves two parts. One is the decompression and the second is stabilization using either fusion or disc replacement with a motion device. In the video above, Dr. Neubardt discusses the two different methods for stabilizing the spine. He also demonstrates two models of spinal implant systems used for disc replacement as well as the plate and screw systems commonly used with fusion.

As you learn more about the different types of surgery for a herniated disc, you can discuss the options with your surgeon and together determine which type of surgery is best for you.

If you don’t have a surgeon yet, but are suffering with severe neck / arm pain and think you may need surgery for a herniated cervical disc, we welcome you to contact Dr. Neubardt’s office to schedule an appointment.