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Most episodes of pain in the arms from a cervical herniated disc are resolved within a period of a few weeks to a couple of months. However, if the pain lasts for more than 6 to 12 weeks or if the pain and disability caused is severe, it is possible that spine surgery is a reasonable option.

Spine surgery for a cervical disc herniation is usually a reliable solution. The success rate is about 95 to 98% in terms of providing relief from arm pain.

With a spine surgeon, surgery should involve a low risk of failure or complication, and can be performed with a minimum amount of postoperative pain and morbidity (unintended consequences).

Cervical disc hernia surgery can be performed in several ways:

  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (DCAF). This is the most common method among spine surgeons for most cases of cervical disc herniation. Through this surgery, the disc is removed through a small incision of an inch that is made in the front of the neck. After the disc is removed, the disc space merges (see Figure 2). It is possible to place a plate on the front of the graft for greater stability and, possibly, a better fusion rate (see Figure 3).
  • Posterior cervical discectomy. This procedure is similar to posterior lumbar discectomy (from the back) and may be a reasonable strategy for cases in which discs protruding laterally into the intervertebral foramen (the «tunnel» through which the nerve travels to leave the spinal canal). However, it is technically more difficult than the previous strategy, because there are many veins in this area that can cause a lot of bleeding, and bleeding limits visualization during surgery. This procedure also requires greater manipulation of the spinal cord.
  • Artificial cervical disc implantation surgery. As in the DCAF, a cervical disc implantation surgery involves removal of the affected disc through a small incision in the front of the neck. However, instead of a fusion in the disk space, an artificial disk is placed in that space. The purpose of the artificial disk is to imitate the shape and function of the original disk.

Although all major surgeries have potential risks and complications, with an experienced surgeon in the spine, serious complications from cervical disc surgery are uncommon. The two most common surgeries, DCAF and artificial disc, are considered reliable surgeries with favorable results in terms of reducing patients’ pain.