About Cervical Spine Surgery
Key Highlights
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Provides significant relief from chronic neck pain, arm pain, numbness, or tingling.Can restore nerve function and prevent further neurological damage.Improves spinal stability and corrects structural deformities.Offers various minimally invasive and motion-preserving surgical options.Aims to enhance overall mobility and quality of life.
Who is this surgery for?
- Severe cervical disc herniation causing nerve root (radiculopathy) or spinal cord (myelopathy) compression.
- Cervical spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal).
- Degenerative disc disease leading to chronic, debilitating pain unresponsive to conservative treatments.
- Spinal instability due to trauma, fracture, or advanced degeneration.
- Cervical spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra over another).
- Certain types of tumors or infections affecting the cervical spine.
How to prepare
- Complete a thorough medical evaluation, including blood tests, ECG, and imaging studies (X-ray, MRI, CT scan).
- Discuss all current medications with your surgeon; you may need to stop blood thinners or NSAIDs.
- Cease smoking well in advance, as it can significantly impair healing.
- Maintain a healthy diet and manage chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
- Arrange for post-operative support at home and plan for time off work.
- Follow specific pre-operative fasting instructions provided by the hospital.
Risks & possible complications
- General surgical risks: Infection, bleeding, or adverse reaction to anesthesia.
- Nerve injury, potentially leading to persistent numbness, weakness, or paralysis.
- Spinal cord injury, which is rare but serious.
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or hoarseness, often temporary.
- Failure of bone fusion (pseudoarthrosis) in fusion surgeries.
- Adjacent segment disease, where levels next to the surgery site degenerate faster.
- Hardware-related issues like screw loosening or implant failure.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay typically lasts 1-3 days for monitoring and initial pain management.
- You will be encouraged to walk with assistance soon after surgery to promote circulation.
- Neck movement may be restricted with a cervical collar for several weeks to support healing.
- Pain is managed with prescribed medications; activities like lifting, bending, and twisting are restricted.
- Physical therapy is usually started after a few weeks to restore strength and flexibility.
- Follow-up appointments are crucial to monitor healing through X-rays and assess progress.
- A full return to normal activities, including non-strenuous work, may take 6-12 weeks.
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Typical hospital stay: 1-3 days
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Expected recovery time: 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering cervical spine surgery in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for cervical spine surgery in India include Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Miot Hospital Chennai, Manipal Hospital Rangapani, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform cervical spine surgery. MediFyr helps you compare spine surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for cervical spine surgery compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | INR 250 Thousand – 800 Thousand | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
| Turkey | TRY 875 Thousand – 2.8 Million | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
Top hospitals for Cervical Spine Surgery in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated spine surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing cervical spine surgery.
Ananya Williams, a 42-year-old high school...
Ananya Williams, a 42-year-old high school art teacher and mother of two, had been living with worsening neck pain for three years. An avid gardener and painter, she found her hobbies becoming impossible due to persistent pain, numbness radiating down her right arm to her fingertips, and weakness that made holding a paintbrush steady a struggle. Conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, and injections provided only fleeting relief. An MRI revealed a severe herniated disc at C6-C7 compressing her spinal cord and nerve root. Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Chen, recommended an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to relieve the pressure, stabilize her spine, and prevent further nerve damage. Ananya was terrified of surgery near her spinal cord but was more afraid of losing her ability to create art and play with her children. The procedure went smoothly. The first weeks of recovery were challenging with neck stiffness and swallowing discomfort, but the debilitating arm pain and numbness were gone immediately. With diligent physical therapy, she gradually regained strength and range of motion. Six months post-op, Ananya is back in her garden and has started a new series of paintings. Emotionally, she moved from a place of fear and loss, grieving her active self, to immense relief and gratitude. She feels she has reclaimed not just her neck, but her joy and identity.
Spine surgeons for Cervical Spine Surgery
Explore experienced spine surgeons who regularly perform cervical spine surgery and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 20 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 14 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 8 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Jaipur, Jaipur
- 7 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 5 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Orthopedist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 25 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 15 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 17 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Delhi
- 19 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon