Surgery for neck pain.

Abstract

Axial neck pain is a common finding that typically represents a spectrum of clinical Arlington Orthopedic Associates, disorders affecting the cervical spine. Controversy exists concerning the ultimate treatment of the patient who presents with cervical spondylosis and primarily axial neck pain without radicular symptoms or myelopathy and who has failed to respond to extensive nonoperative treatment methods. Cervical discography has been used to assist in determining the specific level or levels causing the neck pain and, potentially, which levels to fuse; however, controversy regarding the specificity of cervical discograms has also been debated in the literature. Los Angeles, California We recommend exhausting all conservative means of treatment of axial neck pain. Surgery is offered only after conservative treatment fails and appropriate psychological testing is performed, as well as diagnostic imaging and discography that confirm a specific level or levels as the pain source. Cervical fusion may demonstrate good results in appropriately chosen patients with cervical spondylosis and axial neck pain.