Cervical Operation Rehab

Question 1

What are the overall indications for surgery?

Answer 1

• severe, progressive neurological signs and symptoms
• failure of conservative care
• traumatic instability
• metastatic disease

Question 2

What are common procedures for the cervical spine?

Answer 2

• Disc Procedures (discectomy)
• Decompression Procedures (laminoplasty, laminectomy w/ fusion, and foraminotomy)
• fusions (anterior cervical discectomy fusion)
• arthroplasty (total disc replacement)

Question 3

What is a cervical discectomy?

Answer 3

removal of disc material to treat radiculopathy. often done alone only in young healthy patients, more commonly performed w/ a fusion following

Question 4

What is the gold standard surgical procedure for treating cervical radiculopathy?

What are the steps of the surgery?

Answer 4

Anterior Cervical discectomy, fusion (ACDF)

remove disc-prepare site-insert graft-fixation

Question 5

What is laminoplasty?

Answer 5

rebuilding a lamina with metal scaffolding

Question 6

What are the rehab considerations for ROM, lifting, walking, and balance exercises for post-op cervical patients?

Answer 6

ROM-limited until cleared by surgeon, variable based on procedure

Lifting-limited for 2-4 weeks

walking-excellent post-surgical activity

Balance-potentially very limited in acute phase