Degenerative changes in the cervical spine mainly cause cervical spondylosis, such as spinal cord cervical spondylosis, nerve root cervical spondylosis, vertebral artery cervical spondylosis, and sympathetic cervical spondylosis, and surgery may cause nerve damage or decreased cervical spine mobility.
Those with severe degenerative changes of the cervical spine can be treated with surgery. Surgical methods include cervical fusion, cervical disc replacement, and so on, and the risks are as follows:
1. Cervical fusion: can be used as a surgical option for cervical disc damage. During surgery the surgeon removes the degenerated disc and inserts spacers to secure the cervical plate to the adjacent vertebrae. Removal, bending, or breaking of any component during the surgery and pressure on the skin from the instrumentation may result in skin damage, nerve damage, and more. The procedure reduces flexibility and range of motion of the neck.
2. Cervical disc replacement: The diseased disc is removed and replaced with an artificial cervical disc. During the surgical removal of the damaged/diseased disc or during the replacement of the artificial cervical disc, the nerves and blood vessels are in close proximity, so there is a risk of injury to the nearby nerves or blood vessels, resulting in loss of use of the limb or hemorrhage.
In order to increase the success rate of the surgery and reduce the risk during the surgery, cervical degeneration should go to a regular hospital to receive surgical treatment in order to avoid adverse complications.