Who needs a Cervical Foraminotomy?

Cervical Foraminotomy is suggested for patients who have bone spurs or herniated discs that are causing cervical nerve root compression. Symptoms of cervical nerve root compression include pain in the neck and shoulders. Pins and needles, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands and arms are also symptoms.

Your healthcare provider can review the exact symptoms and causes that apply to you and why you may be a candidate for the anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. 

Cervical foraminotomy is utilized only if the conservative treatments have failed to relieve the pain, or…

• If there is evidence of severe weakness
• If the pain in the arm is so severe that narcotic analgesia fail to control the pain
• If there is a suggestion of spinal cord compression and myelopathy

Incision

We give the patient general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision down the middle of the rear of the neck. The skin and soft tissues are retracted to expose the bony roof of the spine.

Removal of Spinal Bone

The surgeon removes and clears away the bone from posterior arch of the spine. This helps the surgeon to have access to the pinched nerve root and herniated disc in the spinal canal.

Removal of Herniated Disc

The surgeon checks the freedom of the nerve with the help of a small instrument. The surgeon then removes the thickened ligament, bone spurs, and herniated discs. This helps to take the tension and pressure off the nerve root.

Closure

The surgery ends when the surgeon puts the muscles and soft tissues back in place. The wound is then closed with the help of stitches or medical glue.