Before turning to spine surgery, there are several nonsurgical treatment options that may alleviate symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease. In addition, symptoms may subside on their own.
Back Surgery
Is surgery for neck or back pain necessary? Sometimes. It is reasonable to consider spine surgery if the pain has not diminished after months of non-surgical treatment, if pain does not respond to medication, or if you're unable to complete basic daily activities. Some surgery options are minimally invasive (microdiscectomy for a herniated disc) and allow for quick recovery, while other types of surgery (a posterolateral fusion for degenerative disc disease) are more extensive.
Uncover the various types of spine surgeries and gain insights into their purpose, techniques, and potential uses.
Learn about how vertebral augmentation can reduce pain from a fractured vertebra. These procedures are termed vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, or radiofrequency vertebral augmentation.
Find out how a minimally-invasive vertebroplasty procedure can help treat a compression fracture.
The procedures for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are similar, but contain key differences that patients should consider when deciding on surgery for vertebral fractures.
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Vertebroplasty Procedure
Vertebroplasty, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, may be considered for painful spine fractures primarily caused by osteoporosis.
Vertebroplasty tends to be a safe procedure, but it has some risks for potentially serious complications.
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Vertebroplasty vs. Kyphoplasty
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures that may be used in cases of severe pain caused by a vertebral fracture that does not improve over a number of weeks with pain medication and bracing.
Learn the common applications of robotic technology in spine surgeries with our comprehensive guide authored by an industry expert.
Surgery for cervical degenerative disc disease may be a reasonable option if a correctible spinal problem has been identified or if a patient has neck pain that significantly affects his or her quality of life.