Cervical Spine Surgery

Cervical spine surgery can provide lasting relief from chronic neck pain affecting mobility and quality of life. At his practice in Santa Monica, California, orthopedic spine surgeon William Sheppard, MD, MPH, specializes in minimally invasive cervical spine surgery. Dr. Sheppard’s reliance on less invasive procedures results in quicker recoveries and less downtime. Call the office of William Sheppard, MD, today to schedule a cervical spine surgery consultation, or book your appointment online.

What is cervical spine surgery?

Cervical spine surgery is an orthopedic surgery subspecialty focused on treating chronic neck pain and stabilizing the spine. Dr. Sheppard might recommend this procedure if you have severe neck pain that doesn’t improve with conservative care like activity changes, physical therapy, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication.

Am I a candidate for cervical spine surgery?

You could benefit from cervical spine surgery if you have severe neck pain caused by:

• Herniated cervical discs
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Bone spurs
• Cervical fractures
• Spinal cord compression
• Pinched nerves

Sometimes, Dr. Sheppard uses cervical spine surgery to treat degenerative conditions like scoliosis (an abnormal spinal curve) and kyphosis (rounding of the upper back).

Are there different types of cervical spine surgery?

Yes. Dr. Sheppard specializes in two types of cervical spinal surgery:

Cervical disc replacement

This procedure replaces a damaged or herniated cervical disc with an artificial one. The artificial disc restores the space between your cervical vertebrae, relieves pain, and improves your range of motion.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

This procedure removes a damaged cervical disc and bone spurs, placing pressure on the surrounding nerve roots. After removing the disc, Dr. Sheppard replaces it with a bone graft. The graft fuses your cervical vertebrae together, improving your spine’s stability and relieving pain. This procedure does, however, limit your range of motion.

Sometimes, cervical spine surgery requires additional steps to ease or eliminate lasting neck pain.

What is recovery like after cervical spine surgery?

After cervical spine surgery, you’ll spend at least one night in the hospital. Once the anesthetic wears off, it’s normal to experience pain, swelling, and bruising. You might also need a neck brace or a cervical collar to prevent excessive movement.

Following discharge from the hospital, you’ll begin physical therapy. Physical therapy uses stretches, strengthening exercises, and manual treatments like massage to increase circulation, relieve pain, and speed healing.

Full recovery typically takes three to six months. However, most people return to work and light activities within a week of their procedure.* Attend each follow-up appointment as scheduled and take all medications as prescribed.

Call the office of William Sheppard, MD, today to schedule a cervical spine surgery consultation, or book your appointment online.

*Individual results may vary.