Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion

Your cervical spine is the region of the spine located in your neck, starting at the base of your skull and ending at your upper back, consisting of seven vertebrae. Typically, PCDF is used to treat severe cervical spinal cord compression and cervical spine injuries. This compression can be a result of spinal tumors, disc degeneration, osteoarthritis, infection, scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, stenosis, infection, or a traumatic injury. 

Symptoms that may indicate you need a PCDF procedure include: 

• Neck pain and burning
• Tingling, weakness, or numbness in the arms 
• Decreased fine motor skills (such as using a fork or writing with a pen) 
• Balance disturbances 
• Inability to walk 

If you’re experiencing the above symptoms, consult with a spinal specialist to get a proper evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan specific to your unique condition. 

PCDF is performed on the posterior (back) aspect of the cervical spine. The process may vary slightly depending on the cause of your spinal cord compression. 

During the procedure, your surgeon will create an incision on the back of your neck. From there, they will decompress the spinal cord and use instrumentation to stabilize it.

The fusion part of the procedure happens as you recover. During the procedure, bone graft may be placed along the sides of the bones, helping them fuse together as you heal. 

After spinal surgery, you will have some restrictions and limitations to ensure proper healing. While it’s normal to feel pain, stiffness, and soreness after surgery, this will get better with time. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics, over-the-counter medicines, and pain medications to reduce the risk of infection and help with pain management. They may also prescribe a cervical collar to provide support and stability for a few weeks as your neck heals. 

After cervical spine surgery, you will be restricted from: 

• Bending forward or backward or twisting your back or neck side to side
• Lifting, pushing, or pulling anything that weighs over five pounds 
• Driving 
• Strenuous physical activity 
• Sitting for extended periods

You will also want to be sure to get plenty of sleep and rest, but staying sedentary for too long can cause stiffness. Take short walks to encourage healing and recovery. As you heal, your healthcare provider will progressively lift your restrictions and may even prescribe physical therapy to help you gain back strength, mobility, and flexibility in your neck.

It typically takes three months for the fusion part of the procedure to start, which can take between six months to a year to fully complete.

Recovering from spinal surgery isn’t one-size-fits-all, and your restrictions, limitations, and recovery time will vary. Whether you’re recovering from PCDF, or you’re caring for a loved one after surgery, make sure to follow all post-surgery instructions and attend all follow-up appointments for the best recovery and results.

Every surgical procedure comes with some level of risk. Your healthcare provider will discuss all of the risks particular to PCDF with you and will be able to provide more insight into the likelihood of complications based on your unique medical history and health status. 

General risks of spinal surgery include blood clots, infection, poor healing, complications from anesthesia, excessive bleeding, a minimal decrease in spinal flexibility, and more. Risks particular to PCDF include nerve root and spinal cord damage, continued pain, or your condition coming back. 

When it comes to spinal fusion, PCDF has proven to be highly successful.