Spinal Fusion: Cervical

Cervical Vertebrae

Fusing vertebrae in the cervical spine (the top 7 vertebrae of your spine) may help ease neck and arm pain. It may also help relieve progressive paralysis caused by compression of your nerve roots or spinal cord. Two or more vertebrae in your neck are fused. Cervical fusion is usually done through an incision in the front of the neck. It may sometimes be done through the back of the neck, or through both the front and back. The surgery generally takes from 1 to 4 hours.

The fusion procedure

These steps apply to fusion from the front of the neck:

• A careful dissection is performed between the trachea, esophagus and the blood vessels to access the front of the spine.
• An X-ray is done to verify that the right spinal level is being operated on.
• The disk is removed from between the vertebrae.
• Bone spurs are removed.
• Bone graft is packed into the now-empty space between the vertebrae. In time, the graft and the bone around it will grow into a solid unit.
• To help keep your spine steady and promote fusion, extra support (see below) may be used
• The incision is closed with sutures or staples. 

The disk between the vertebrae is removed.

Over a few months, the bone graft and vertebrae fuse into a solid unit

Bone graft is packed into the now-empty space between the vertebrae

If extra support is needed

Metal supports called instrumentation may be used to help steady your spine while it fuses. These supports are not removed. Your surgeon may use one or more types of support. The most common type of support used with anterior lumbar fusion is a cage. This is a plastic or metal device that gives extra support to the spine and is filled with bone graft materials. It is inserted into the empty space where the disk was removed. It remains in the body and is not removed.