Los Angeles Minimally Invasive Spine Institute

1
What are the symptoms of neck pain?
Los Angeles Back Spine Surgery Patients will
typically experience pain along the neck,
corresponding to the level of where the pain is
being generated from. Neck pain may be felt in
the shoulders, upper back or may even sometimes
cause headache. Neck arthritis may result in
compression of the nerves of the neck. With
involvement of nerves, radiating pain may be
present in the shoulder, arm or fingers Los
Angeles Minimally Invasive Spine Institute. What
causes neck pain? Neck pain is usually caused by
degenerative conditions of the spine, most
commonly arthritis. This arthritis involves the
disc, which serves as a cushion between the
vertebrae. Arthritis can also involve the neck
joints, called facets. Neck pain can also be
caused by an injury, such as a fall or car
accident. An injury can cause pain by hurting the
joints, the disc or the ligaments Spine
Surgery. How is neck pain evaluated? The first
step in the evaluation of neck pain is a careful
history and physical examination. Often, a
history will give many clues as to what part of
the neck is causing the pain, the joints or the
disc. When conservative care with medications and
therapy fails to bring relief an MRI gives
doctors a look inside the neck. How is neck pain
treated? The first step is treatment with
therapy and neck exercises. Medications can
relieve pain and inflammation. In patients that
dont respond a spinal pain management evaluation
can be performed. In this highly specialized
evaluation, we determine which of the structures
in the neck the pain is emanating from. Spinal
injections can bring relief and confirm the
source of pain. Minimally invasive surgery is
reserved only for cases that do not improve with
spinal injections.
2
What is an endoscopic anterior discectomy? Percut
aneous means surgery is performed through a
needle puncture, instead of a large skin
incision. The use of a needle allows the surgeon
to access the disc through a tiny opening in the
skin and through natural openings in the spine.
Once the needle is in place it is exchanged for a
small tube that allows an endoscope to pass
through it. Endoscopic means that the surgeon
performs the procedure through a channel in the
endoscope, while watching with the endoscope
camera. How is a percutaneous endoscopic
cervical discectomy performed? Percutaneous
cervical discectomy is a minimally invasive
procedure for the treatment of neck pain or
cervical nerve pain due to a herniated disk. To
start the procedure, a tiny skin nick is made on
the skin at the front of the neck. A needle is
placed through the skin nick and into the disc.
A small wire is then placed into the disc,
through the needle. The needle is exchanged for a
series of small tubes. Using specialized
instruments surgery is performed through these
tubes. The procedure is guided by an endoscope,
placed through the tube, and x-rays. What are
the advantages of percutaneous endoscopic
discectomy? Because a needle is used to access
the disc from the skin a skin incision is not
made, only a skin nick. Since the needle arrives
to the disc via natural spinal openings healthy
tissues are not disrupted. For example, unlike
traditional minimally invasive surgery, muscles
are not stripped from bone to access the spine,
healthy bone is not removed to access the spinal
openings and important spinal ligaments are not
cut to access the disc. Performing surgery
through a tiny skin nick and leaving healthy
tissues intact means a same day procedure with a
quicker recovery. How long will the procedure
take? The procedure typically takes an hour to
an hour and a half, depending on how many levels
are operated on. After the procedure you will
recover for two to four hours before going
home. What is the recovery like? You will walk
out the door and go home the same day with pain
medications. For the first two to three days we
advise plenty of rest with light neck stretching
exercises. Activity should be tolerably
increased over 7 days and should consist of short
walks at first and a gradual return to normal
daily activities. Avoid strenuous activity and
heavy lifting (over 10 to 15 pounds) for the
first several months. If ones job is sedentary
then work can be resumed in 7 days. At 4 weeks
physical therapy can be resumed. Since the
procedure is minimally invasive rehabilitation
will generally be easier and faster than with
traditional surgery. Recovery time will vary
based on individual factors.
3
What is an endoscopic anterior discectomy? Percut
aneous means surgery is performed through a
needle puncture, instead of a large skin
incision. The use of a needle allows the surgeon
to access the disc through a tiny opening in the
skin and through natural openings in the spine.
Once the needle is in place it is exchanged for a
small tube that allows an endoscope to pass
through it. Endoscopic means that the surgeon
performs the procedure through a channel in the
endoscope, while watching with the endoscope
camera.