Cervical radiculopathy is the radiation of neck pain to certain parts of the upper body. Certain conditions, such as a herniated disk, spinal stenosis or osteoarthritis, can compress a spinal nerve as it exits the spinal column. Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health, states that compression of cervical spinal nerves can lead to radiated neck pain, neck stiffness, loss of sensation in the upper body, weakness and headaches. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to treat the condition that is causing cervical radiculopathy. A patient should be aware of the possible complications.
Tear in Spinal Cord Membrane
Physicians at The Mayo Clinic state that surgery for cervical radiculopathy can cause a tear in the membrane that covers the spinal cord at the site of the surgery. The membrane, or the dura, protects the spinal cord and keeps cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, around the spinal cord. If the dura is damaged, CSF can continually leak from the tear, which results in malnourishment of the spinal cord and possible nerve damage. Thus, making sure the dura properly heals is important in preventing further complications. A patient should let his doctor know if he experiences headaches, dizziness or confusion, as these may be signs of membrane damage.
Bleeding
Bleeding may be a complication of cervical radiculopathy surgery. The spinal column is surrounded by blood vessels that provide oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to the spinal cord and surrounding tissue. If large blood vessels are damaged during surgery, they may have difficulty healing. In addition, some patients are prone to prolonged bleeding, which may be difficult to control after surgery. A patient should always let her doctor know if she is taking blood-thinning medications, such as coumadin, heparin, lovenox or aspirin. Signs of excessive bleeding after surgery include neck swelling, excessive neck pain and oozing of blood from the wound site. A patient should not hesitate to seek medical treatment if she notices these symptoms.
Infection
Every surgery poses a risk of infection, including cervical radiculopathy surgery. Bacteria live on the skin, surgical tools and on the surrounding surgical field. Although sterilized, bacteria may enter the wound during surgery to cause a skin infection, infection of the spinal column that can travel to the brain or a systemic infection. Signs of a skin infection include excessive pain, redness, warmth or drainage from the wound site. Headaches, neck stiffness, confusion and fever are signs of a spinal column infection that may have spread to the brain. Finally, fever, chills and night sweats are signs that an infection has spread through the bloodstream to the rest of the body. A patient should not hesitate to seek medical treatment if he experiences any signs of infection.
