to the cervical spine.

Under certain circumstances the dorsal cervical microforaminotomy may be an option to treat a herniated disk of the cervical spine. This may obviate the insertion of an artificial disk replacement or a stiffening surgery. It is possible in cases where the disk material bulges laterally or if a narrowing of a foramen is present only on one side.

Cervical microforaminotomy is an established treatment option practiced in its conventional form already since the 1950ies. If necessary, also two levels may be operated on in a single surgery.

Dr. Helmbrecht performs this intervention by means of a minimally invasive technique with dorsal access (i.e. from the back). Compared to the classical ventral discectomy (with subsequent stiffening) this procedure offers the advantage that mostly there are no detrimental effects on mobility or stability.

In fact Dr. Helmbrecht modified the access for surgery which helped to shrink the cutaneous incision from originally 4 cm to about 1 cm. This contributes to a much quicker healing process, so that patients can resume their daily activities a lot earlier.

How is surgery carried out?

Surgery is carried out in prone or sitting position and under general anesthesia. Through a small skin incision of about 1 cm a trocar is inserted. Under sight-control by means of a microscope or optical endoscope the extruded disk tissue is removed with micro instruments and the compressed nerve root freed. This usually leads to an immediate and significant pain relieve.

The intervention takes 30 to 60 minutes. Two to three days you may leave the clinic. After two weeks there will be a follow-up examination.

What postoperative care is necessary?

About one week after the surgery it is advisable to start an individually targeted physiotherapy under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

When may I resume my sports activities?

About three weeks after the intervention you should be able to go swimming or to ride your bicycle. You may gradually start to resume your usual sports activities about 6 weeks after the surgery.

 

When can I go back to work?

After three weeks you can resume simple office work and slight physical work. You shouldn’t do any hard physical work during the first 8 weeks and then only gradually increase.

What is the success rate?

In the international scientific literature success rates of over 80% are quoted.

All advantages at a glance:

• With dorsal cervical microforaminotomy stability and mobility of the cervical vertebrae is maintained. When adequately indicated the procedure is hence a tissue-preserving and safe alternative to the insertion of an artificial disk or a stiffening surgery.
• Due to the minimally invasive technique recovery times are much shorter than with conventional surgery.
• Already three weeks after the intervention your may resume your normal daily activities
• Few complications
• High success rate

 

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