Spinal Surgery for Neck Pain

Cervical Discectomy

Microdecompressive Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy with Laser Application is an outpatient procedure to shrink and remove a portion of the herniated disc. Using local, or in some cases, brief general anesthesia with the help of x-rays and endoscope for guidance, specially designed micro-instruments (a discectome and a laser probe) are inserted into the disc space. A portion of the offending disc is removed with suction and then shrunk with a laser, instead of open surgery.

Microdecompressive cervical discectomy is different from standard cervical disc surgery because there is no muscle dissection, bone removal, bone fusion, or large incision. Therefore, most complications that occur with conventional surgery are eliminated with this procedure.

This procedure is specifically designed for patients with uncomplicated, herniated discs accompanied by the following:

Pain radiating from the neck downward to the arm
Symptoms including severe headache, tingling, numbness, and findings of muscle weakness, and sensory loss
A positive CT or MRI scan for disc herniation
No improvement of symptoms after six to eight weeks of conservative therapy
Positive electromyogram (EMG) study is helpful
Positive provocative discogram

Microdecompressive cervical discectomy with laser application requires no hospitalization, usually allows for earlier return to work and earlier return to previous daily activities when compared to open surgery. Rare patient complications include: mild cervical muscle spasms and transient pain. A small percentage of patients do not get relief of symptoms. Patients who initially have obtained good results usually remain pain free. This procedure does not prevent or preclude any future spine surgery including fusion, if necessary.