Anterior cervical corpectomy is a surgical procedure used to relieve pressure on the spinal cord by removing part of a vertebral body and the discs above and below it. It is typically used for more extensive or multilevel compression in the neck.
Quick Facts:
- Removes part of a vertebra to decompress the spinal cord
- Used for more complex or multilevel disease
- Performed through the front of the neck
- Stabilized with a cage and instrumentation
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WHAT IS AN POSTERIOR CERVICAL FORAMINOTOMY?
Foraminotomy means opening the whole where the nerve root leaves the spine.
In this procedure:
- A tube is placed as a retractor to the back of the cervical spine
- The facet joint, which lies on top of the exiting nerve root, is drilled down
- The nerve root is completelty released from compression
👉 The goal is to remove pressure on the nerve root,
WHY IS THIS PROCEDURE PERFORMED?
Foraminotomy is used when patients have isolated symptoms related to nerve root compression.
Common Indications
- Cervical disc herniation
- Cervical spondylosis
- Cervical adjacent segment disease
👉 This is a great surgery to avoid instrumentation and/or fusion in select patients
SYMPTOMS THAT MAY REQUIRE FORAMINOTOMY
Common Symptoms
- Arm pain or numbness
- Arm / hand weakness
🚨 When Surgery May Be More Urgent
- Progressive weakness
- Severe, unrelenting pain refractory to conservative care
HOW IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED?
Step-by-Step Overview
- Anesthesia
- Performed under general anesthesia
- Posterior Approach
- A small incision is made in the back of the neck
- A tubular retractor is placed to the back of the spine over the compressed nerve root
- Bone removal
- A microscope and microdissection tools are used
- A small drill and punch used to remove bone
- Nerve Root Decompression
- Dissection tools are used to remove soft tissue
- The nerve root is confirmed to be completely free of compression
👉 The nerve root is carefully freed up with microsurgery
OUR APPROACH
We focus on careful selection and precise execution of foraminotomy procedures.
- This procedure is done as an outpatient
- This procedure should always be considered for isolated nerve root symptoms
- The goal is safe, effective nerve root decompression with durable results
👉This is a preferred approach of our practice, a very reliable and low morbidity procedure
WHAT TO EXPECT
Before Surgery
- MRI and X-ray evaluation
- Assessment of nerve root compression
- Surgical planning
Day of Surgery
- Performed under general anesthesia
- Procedure length depends on levels involved
After Surgery
- Outpatient common
- Gradual improvement in neurologic symptoms
- Recovery varies depending on severity of cord compression
OUTCOMES & RISKS
Potential Benefits
- Relief of nerve root compression
- No loss of spinal stability
- No implants, no fusion
- Improvement in function
Risks
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Nerve or spinal cord injury
👉 Outcomes depend on severity of compression and timing of surgery
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why choose this surgery instead of a fusion of disc replacement?
Putting in implants and fusing the spine increases the procedural and post-op risk, and should be avoided if possible.
Will my symptoms recur ?
This is possible, but uncommon. Depends on the cause for your symptoms.
Will my symptoms improve?
Most patients improve, can take weeks to months for severe symptoms.
How long is recovery?
Typically rapid, incisional pain improved quickly, activity restrictions are for 4-6 weeks.
FOR REFERRING PHYSICIANS
- Refer patients with:
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Interest in minimally invasive surgery
- Second opinion if offered instrumentation / fusion for isolated radiculopathy
- Imaging:
- MRI cervical spine
- CT for bony anatomy
- Dynamic x-rays for alignment and stability
- Urgent referral for:
- Progressive weakness
- Severe, unrelenting pain
RELATED CONDITIONS / PROCEDURES
- Cervical Neurologic Symptoms
- ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion)
- Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement