Cervical Spine Surgery Treatment in South Korea
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 South Korea, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in South Korea with spine surgery departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | USD 4,725 – USD 15,120 | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
| Thailand | USD 4,800 – USD 17,920 | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
| South Korea | USD 4,800 – USD 17,920 | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
| India | USD 2,728 – USD 8,728 | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
| Turkey | USD 20,154 – USD 64,494 | 1-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; up to 6-12 months for complete healing and fusion | Know More |
Follow-up visit for my cervical disc...
Follow-up visit for my cervical disc replacement. Dr. Dwivedi remembered my daughter's board exam results and asked about them first. His staff coordinated with insurance for my scans - clinical excellence matched by human touch.