Category: Spinal Surgery

I have treated numerous patients suffering from neck fractures, and each injury is different from the next. A neck fracture can happen for many different reasons. Common causes include falls, collisions, diving into shallow water, sudden twists to the neck or severe blows to the head and neck area. The first thing I do with an injured patient is assess the severity of the injury. Is it associated with dislocation or instability? Which cervical bones are broken? Is there a spinal cord or nerve injury? This information helps me determine the best option for treatment. Common treatment options include immobilization, …

Many of my patients first visit my practice with complaints of neck and arm pain, caused by a herniated disc. Although most episodes of neck pain are temporary, some patients experience chronic pain that ultimately requires surgery. Depending on the patient’s level of discomfort, there are two surgical options, cervical spinal fusion and disk replacement. When cervical spinal fusion surgery is performed, the affected bones in the neck are “fused” together using bone graft material with a plate and cage, so they can heal into one healthy bone. Bone grafts can be taken from a patient’s pelvic bone, or cadaver …