How Are Bone Spurs Removed From the Neck?

Indications

Surgery to remove bone spurs is generally only done as a last resort. Bone spurs in the neck can initially be diagnosed via an X-ray of the neck which will show small bony outgrowths from the vertebrae. Bone spurs typically cause nerve problems because they create problems with the spinal cord. Bone spurs in the neck can lead to spinal stenosis which can cause pain and tingling in other parts of the body. It can also cause neck pain and stiffness if the bone spurs cause problems with the cervical discs and the joints. Initially bone spurs are usually treated with more conservative treatments, such as physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles and cortisone shots to relieve the inflammation. However, if these treatments do not provide relief, an orthopedic surgeon may elect for surgery.

Frontal Approach

Surgery to remove bone spurs can take place with the doctors entering from the front or from the rear. The type of operation depends on where the bone spurs are and the surgeon's preferences. With the frontal approach, the surgeon makes a incision in the front of the neck and moves the trachea and esophagus to the side to gain access to the cervical spine. The surgeon will then locate the bone spurs and remove them. Depending on the patient's problems, some of the discs (small structures made out of cartilage that provide cushioning) may also be removed. In some cases the surgeon may elect to remove two discs and the bone in between them and replace that section with a bone graft from elsewhere in the body.

Posterior Approach

In other cases, a surgeon may decide to remove bone spurs by approaching from the back of the neck, especially if there is narrowing of the parts of the vertebrae that protect the spinal cord. This procedure is called a laminectomy. The back part of the vertebrae (called the lamina) is cut and removed in order to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. This type of procedure allows the surgeon to also get access to the bone spurs and to remove them.