Anterior Cervical Corpectomy

  I have seen 4 neurologists and 2 neurosurgeons -Miami, Boca and G'ville. I have numbness in both hands with occasional "shock waves" I have had numerous MRI's. Everyone seems to agree my problem is at C5-6 (cogenital stenosis). One neurosurgeon also believes the problem stems to C6-7. No two drs take the same approach. One says just a laminectomy and the other a ACC. I am seing Dr. Green in Miami shortly. Basically my question is if everyone is eeing the same MRI's why such varying diagnosis'(I'm just ventting I guess). I have one article on ACCthat Dr. Fessler just published. Are there others??
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Dear Robert,
The age-old question for spine surgeons is whether to approach a lesion from the front or from the back.  Much of the rationale depends on the particular appearance of the pathology on your MRI's.  Opinions on how to approach surgery for these situations can vary, though often both procedures would offer similar results.  Your surgeon can tell you the differences in risk and long-term outcomes.
The surgeons you are seeing are well-versed in these issues relating to spine surgery.  Dr. Fessler is an excellent spine surgeon and is, no doubt, aware of all the issues at hand.  There is no single piece of literature that will give you the definitive answer you seek, though thousands of articles have been published over the years.  Some would adamantly say you need to have the corpectomy, while others would say the laminectomy is less invasive and just as beneficial.
Talk to your surgeon about the issues of an anterior versus a posterior approach in your situation.  He should be able to explain his goals with surgery in a way that is understandable to you.  
Good luck.