How dangerous is an operation on the cervical spine?

A herniated disc in the cervical spine is painful and restricts the patient. The pain often radiates to the head and neck area, which can be accompanied by feelings of numbness and even paralysis. In addition, symptoms such as dizziness or ringing in the ears or blurred vision can occur. There are also cases with hardly noticeable symptoms, but sometimes appear in connection with gait disorders. Depending on the individual case, an operation on the can be considered as a suitable therapy. There are several options for an operation on the cervical spine. In principle, a distinction is made, on the one hand, according to access to the cervical spine, from the front or from behind, and, on the other hand, whether the function can be preserved or whether a stiffening is required.

How dangerous is an operation on the cervical spine?

There are several risks involved in open surgery on the cervical spine. However, these are to be classified as minor and are usually of a temporary nature.
How complicated is a cervical spine operation
The difficulty of the operation depends on the type and extent of the operation. Depending on the extent of the operation and the size of the intervention, the operation lasts from 50 minutes to three hours.

Is the risk of paralysis caused by the operation realistic?

This risk is low, especially since the operation is performed with an X-ray image intensifier and a microscope. However, it can be greater if the patient chooses not to have surgery despite the doctor's advice.
There are general surgical risks such as infection, bleeding and special risks such as numbness and paralysis. Dysphagia and hoarseness may occur temporarily after the operation.

In which cases is an operation useful?

An operation makes sense if conservative therapy methods are unsuccessful and the clinical symptoms of the patient are consistent with the neuroradiological findings (eg MRI) and if neurological deficits already exist.

How is the operation and aftercare going?

Surgery on the cervical spine is usually performed under general anesthesia. The incision is made either transversely on the front of the neck or longitudinally on the neck, the aim is always to reach the cervical spine as gently as possible.
In anterior surgery, the entire disc plus herniated or bony ridges are usually removed under a microscope, followed by either an artificial disc or a spacer.
During the operation from behind, only the free part of the prolapse is removed or the nerve and spinal cord are indirectly relieved via a folding mechanism of the vertebral arches.
A special procedure is the percutaneous endoscopic prolapse removal from the front practiced with Apex-Spine. In this procedure, the prolapse is removed using an endoscope, which is inserted from the front under ultrasound guidance and radiological control. This is usually done under partial anesthesia.
The follow-up treatment depends on the surgical procedure. The patient usually stays in the clinic for 3-5 days, then goes home and starts physiotherapy between 2-4 weeks after the operation, additional strengthening therapy usually after 6 weeks. Return to physical activity is also dependent on the patient's pre-operative fitness level and the type of sport. In some cases, training can be resumed as early as 2 weeks after the operation.

What procedure does the Apex-Spine Spine Clinic use?

The Apex Spine uses all possible surgical procedures on the cervical spine. Your goal is to maintain or restore the function of the cervical spine whenever possible. The endoscopic and sleeve-supported procedures are particularly suitable here, as this results in the least trauma to the soft tissue and is usually associated with faster recovery.