Cervical Surgery - Anterior vs. Posterior

[Ev__]

A friend has to have cervical surgery for a second time; this time it will be a posteior procedure with neck screws implanted.

The first surgery was about 10 years ago; it was an anterior procedure with bone fusion (bone taken from her hip). Her problem is nerve compression.

What factors influence a neurosurgeon to choose posterior over anterior surgery? Can you compare the two in terms of risk, pain, and recovery time? Is one procedure more complex or risky than the other?

[usail2]

I have had 2 posterior surgeries at C6-7, for sever rupture.  And then anterior to remove and fusion.  I can tell you, I would take anterior any day. The recovery it worse the first 6 weeks, in that you have to wear a rigid cervical collar, but the neck pain that I have from the other 2 surgeries are all day every day.

[Mark Parsons]

I had a cervical fusion c5/c6 10 years ago.  It was anterior.
My understanding is that access is easier this way.

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Ev:

Sorry to hear about your friend.  Many technics are neurosurgeon specific, some are lesion specific, and some we just don't know why someone chooses a particular procedure.  I really can't tell you much without knowing more about your friend.  As far as risk, pain, and recovery time these things are lesion specific and surgeon specific.  I would not tell you that one procedure is any more risky than the other.  Again, this depends on the extent and the type of lesion present.  Sorry, I am not much help.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD