Cervical Hernia Surgery
In modern medicine, many new and different methods are applied in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Thus, patients are provided with a much more comfortable treatment process and shorter recovery times. In cervical hernia surgery, surgery with the microsurgical method has also been frequently preferred in recent years.
What Is a Cervical Hernia?
There are 7 cervical vertebrae starting from the base of the head. The vertebrae in this region are surrounded by ligaments and gel-like tissues, and there are discs between them that serve as cushions. A cervical hernia is the condition in which the gel and discs deteriorate due to various reasons and, as a result, put pressure on the nerves and vertebrae. The cervical hernia problem negatively affects patients’ daily life comfort and, if left untreated, may progress further and lead to much more serious problems. The symptoms of cervical hernia can be listed as follows;
- Loss of strength in the arms
- Balance problems
- Difficulty walking
- Numbness in the arms and fingertips
- Difficulty holding an object
- Pain in the neck and shoulders
- Limitation of movement
More than one treatment method can be applied in the cervical hernia problem. These treatment methods are rest, medication, physical therapy, and surgical treatment methods. The symptoms mentioned above may appear differently and with different severity in each patient. In this case, the location and degree of the hernia are of great importance. People experiencing cervical hernia complaints must be examined and treated by specialists in the field.
In the diagnosis process, in addition to evaluating the patient’s general health condition and the physical examination process, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) applications as well as nerve tests defined as EMG are performed.
In people experiencing the cervical hernia problem, surgical treatment methods are resorted to in cases where non-surgical treatment methods do not provide benefit and advanced weakness occurs in the arms.
Cervical Hernia Surgery with Microsurgery
Surgical procedures for the cervical hernia problem have been performed for many years. There are some important risk factors in open surgeries that were frequently performed in previous years. These factors can be listed as follows;
- Risk of infection and bleeding (due to a large incision being made)
- Risk of nerve damage
- Risk of spinal damage
- Risk of the hernia not healing completely
In the microsurgical method applied today as a result of technological developments, in addition to minimizing risk factors, it also provides a highly comfortable surgery and recovery process.
The microsurgical method has emerged in recent years as the surgery method that doctors and patients primarily prefer. The reason for this can be listed as follows;
- Due to the small incision, the risk of infection and bleeding is minimal.
- Since imaging techniques are also used during the surgery process, the risk of nerve damage and spinal damage is low.
- Because it is applied with current technology, it is much more effective and reliable.
- The recovery process is quite short compared to open surgery. In addition, there is no need for hospitalization.
The purpose of cervical hernia surgery with microsurgery is to correct the discs putting pressure on the cervical vertebrae and thus eliminate the pressure. This method must be performed by experienced microsurgery specialists in the field. Otherwise, some vascular injuries and esophageal injuries may occur. For this reason, doctor options should be evaluated carefully and selected before the diagnosis and treatment process.
Process After Cervical Hernia Surgery with Microsurgery
After cervical hernia surgery, some patients may need to stay in the hospital. After 1 day of rest in the hospital, rest should continue at home. However, daily activities can be done at home. After the surgery, it is considered normal to experience hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and a feeling of something stuck in the throat for a few days. The use of neck braces and similar equipment recommended by the doctor should not be neglected.
If opening, swelling, or discharge is observed in the scar at the surgery site, it must be reported to the doctor.
