Anterior Cervical Corpectomy Spine Surgery Cost in India

Anterior Cervical Corpectomy is a surgical procedure operated from the front part of neck to remove damaged vertebrae and intervertebral discs that cause compression in the spinal cord and spinal nerves due to conditions like bone spurs (growth in the bones) and/or cervical stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). 

To understand the technical phrase better, 

• Anterior – means front
• Cervical – relating to the part of the spine in the neck
• Corpectomy – a procedure to remove damaged vertebrae and intervertebral discs.

These vertebrae and intervertebral discs are located in the neck region. 

The surgery involves removing nearly all the vertebral body and discs and replacing it with a piece of bone graft and fused together to maintain stability. 

If you are suffering from Cervical diseases, there is no reason you should get nothing but the best for your spine surgery. After all, it is a choice that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Diagnosis for Cervical Disease

Anterior Cervical Corpectomy relieves pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves. It is performed when the spinal cord is at the risk of damage and non-operative measures are not effective due to conditions like:

Anterior Cervical Corpectomy relieves pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves. It is performed when the spinal cord is at the risk of damage and non-operative measures are not effective due to conditions like:

• Bone spurs: Also called Cervical Osteophytes, it occurs when bones grow on any of the vertebrae of the neck from the base of the skull to the base of the neck due to degenerative tissues around the bone. Symptoms such as tingling sensation, weakness, or numbness in the neck region to the shoulders and arms are experienced.

• Cervical stenosis: This happens when there is a narrowing of the spinal canal. The protective spinal canal of the neck narrows because of degenerative changes or trauma. When there is a reduction in the space within the spinal canal, it causes spinal cord compression. Patients with Cervical stenosis have:
  • Weakness and numbness in the hand that affects grip. The same sensation can be felt in the legs too.
  • Motor skills reduced. Tasks like typing, putting a key in the hole, buttoning a shirt may be a problem.
  • Difficulty in walking as the legs may feel heavy and walking faster may not be possible. Balancing could also be a problem making the patient more reliant on walking cane or rails.
  • Neck pain or stiffness.
  • Pain in the nerve. A sporadic electric shock-like pain is experienced especially when the head is bent forward. 
  • Loss of bowel control and/or loss of bladder.

• Damage of vertebrae: When the vertebrae is damaged due to trauma, deformity, or tumors. It could result in herniated disc or slipped disc causing symptoms like neck pain and stiff neck.

Diagnostic tests for Cervical disease

• CT Scan
• MRI Scan
• Discogram
• Physical examination (clinical diagnosis): Depending on the symptoms, a test will be performed to see the body’s reaction on:
  • The nerve function in the legs or arms
  • Palpitation or motion pain
  • Muscle strength 
• Review of medical history

Candidates unfit for Anterior Cervical Corpectomy

Not every patient is recommended surgery because of the following:

• Osteoporosis
• Allergy to stainless steel
• Infection
• Inflammation at the region
• Joint disease

Procedure

Before Procedure

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor may ask you to do some nonoperative measures like physical therapy and pain medications. If these are effective, surgery may be ruled out. If not, you will be prepared for a surgery and asked to do certain things like:

• Your doctor may ask you to stop certain medications
• Let your doctor know if you have any allergic reactions to medications, food, or materials like latex gloves
• Sleep well and eat a healthy diet
• Stop smoking
• Do not drink or eat anything 8 – 12 hours before surgery
• Remove all make-up, jewelry, wigs, acrylic or polish nails, contact lenses or dentures

During Procedure

Under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes a 2 - 4 centimeters incision on the front part of the neck to expose the bones of the spinal column. A discectomy of either end of the damaged vertebral body is done where the surgeon may also remove more than one vertebrae. Then discs are attached above and below the damaged vertebrae. This decompression ensures relief on the spinal cord and nerves.

After this, to maintain stability and strength to the spinal column, a spinal fusion is done. In this step, the space left by the discs and vertebrae is filled with an implant. There are two types of implants namely:

• A strut graft: A piece of bone with 1-2 inches long taken from the patient’s body or a bone bank is inserted in the space in the spinal column and fixed with titanium plates and screws. The grafted bone slowly fuses with the bones around the area.
• A cage implant: Materials like titanium, artificial bone or, ceramic is used to construct a cage which is inserted in the spinal space and fixed with screws and plates. To achieve fusion between the bone of the spinal column and the cage, small bone grafts, taken from the removed vertebrae are used. 

The incision is closed with few strong sutures and the skin closed with special surgical glue that leaves a minimal scar. Depending on the number of spinal levels removed, the surgery takes around 2 – 3 hours. 

After Procedure

• Patients usually stay in the hospital for around 4-5 days.
• A physical therapist and occupational therapist will work with you to get acquainted with bed routines and walking.
• You may be asked to wear a neck brace or Cervicothoracic brace (CTO) to reduce stress and pain in the neck region and allow healing and fusion.
• Patients are advised to refrain from bending and twisting of the neck during the first few weeks.
• The surgeon will ask to follow up 8 – 10 days after surgery to inspect and remove sutures. Another follow – up will be required, usually 4 – 6 weeks after the surgery. An X-Ray will be done to see the healing and fusion.

Risks and Complications

Although Anterior Cervical Corpectomy is generally safe, complications can occur due to:

• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Damage to the nerve, spinal cord, vocal-chord, and oesophagus
• Failure to heal
• Chronic neck pain
• Graft dislodgment