Surgery for Cervical Herniated Disc or Ruptured Disc

The vertebrae that form the spine are cushioned by round, flat intervertebral discs. Each disc contains a tire-like outer band (called the annulus fibrosus) that encases a gel-like substance (called the nucleus pulposus).When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. If they become damaged, they may bulge abnormally or break open (rupture), in what is called a herniated or slipped disc.

Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, but they are most common in the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) spine. The seven vertebrae between the head and the chest make up the cervical spine. Pain develops when the damaged intervertebral disc pushes into the spinal canal or nerve roots. Terminology referred to are herniated disc, prolapsed disc, ruptured disc and slipped disc.

A herniated disc usually is caused by wear and tear of the disc (also called disc degeneration). Due to age, the discs lose some of the fluid that helps them stay flexible.

Injuries to the spine might also cause a herniated disc, which may cause tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer (annulus or capsule) of the disc. The jellylike material (nucleus) inside the disc may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments.

Herniated discs in the neck or cervical spine can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. In some cases a very large herniated disc in the neck may cause weakness or slight prickling which affects different body parts. The arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated disc material presses on a cervical nerve, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the arm pain, numbness can be present down the arm and fingertips.

• C4 – C5 (C5 nerve root) – Can cause weakness in the deltoid muscle in the upper arm. Can cause shoulder pain.
• C5 – C6 (C6 nerve root) – Can cause weakness in the biceps (front upper arms muscles) and wrist extensor muscles. Numbness and tingling along with pain can radiate to the thumb side of the hand. This is one of the most common levels for a cervical disc herniation to occur.
• C6 – C7 (C7 nerve root) – Can cause weakness in the triceps (back upper arm muscles and extending to the forearm) and the finger extensor muscles. Numbness and tingling along with pain can radiate down the triceps and into the middle finger. This is also one of the most common levels for a cervical disc herniation .
• C7 – T1 (C8 nerve root) – Can cause weakness with handgrip. Numbness and tingling and pain can radiate down the arm to the little finger side of hand.