Neurosurgeons treat a great many diseases of the cervical spine (neck). These include prolapsed intervertebral discs (slipped discs), canal stenosis (narrowing), and spinal tumours.
Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc (Slipped Disc)
As we get older the intervertebral discs wear out and can then bulge backwards. In the neck these can press on the nerve roots going down the arm, causing severe arm pain (brachalgia), as well as weakness and sensory changes. A disc bulge can also press on the spinal cord itself, a potentially serious problem, which may cause weakness, sensory changes, alteration of bladder and bowel function, up to complete paralysis from the neck downwards. The disc is demonstrated using a magnetic resonance image (MRI). If necessary it can be surgically removed by an anterior cervical discectomy.
Cervical Canal Stenosis
As we get older the bones and ligaments of the cervical spine (neck) gradually wear out. This causes the neck to lose some of its normal shape and the bony canal in which the spinal cord sits can become narrowed, sometimes quite severely. This pressure on the spinal cord can be quite serious, causing weakness, sensory loss and bladder and bowel changes, or even complete paralysis below the neck. The stenosis can be demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, if necessary, can be surgically treated by a cervical laminectomy.
Cervical Spinal Tumours
A wide variety of growths and tumours can occur in the cervical spine (neck). These can cause pressure on the nerve roots supplying the arms, causing pain, weakness or sensory changes, as well as pressure on the spinal cord itself, causing weakness, sensory change, bladder and bowel disruption, or even complete paralysis. Tumours are visualised using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and some may need to be surgically removed, often via a cervical laminectomy.
Associated Terms
Neck pain, arm pain, weakness, pins and needles, trapped nerve, paralysis.
