Overview

This surgery relieves pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves.  Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion removes  discs and bone from your cervical spine, then fuses the adjacent vertebrae together.

Incision Created

To prepare for the procedure, you lie on your back and are anesthetized. The surgeon makes an incision on the front of your neck and carefully moves the internal structures aside to provide access to the spine.

Eliminating Pressure

The surgeon removes the main portion of the damaged vertebrae and the spinal discs above and below it.  The surgeon may also remove structures like bone spurs that are pressing against the spinal cord or spinal nerves.

Inserting the Graft

After relieving the pressure on your nerves, the surgeon stabilizes your spine by using a bone graft to fill the void in the spine created by the surgery.  This graft will be held in place a metal plate and screws attached to the vertebrae above and below the graft.

Other Devices

Instead of a graft, your surgeon may choose to use a cage implant that holds your vertebrae in the proper position.

End of Procedure

When the procedure is complete, the incision is closed by stitches and you are placed in a neck brace.  As time passes, new bone will grow and attach to the graft or implant, ultimately fusing vertebrae together.  While this fusion will reduce your neck’s range of motion, it should also alleviate pain and other troublesome symptoms.