Cervical Fusion as a Treatment Option for Whiplash
Neck injuries are some of the most common injuries that occur in accidents in Atlanta. Whiplash for instance, is one of the most common neck injuries in an accident. These typically occur during rear ender accidents. As a result of impact, the person’s head snaps backward and then forward again, with great force. This can cause muscle and ligament tears.
Neck pain can also be caused by a spinal injury in an accident. The intervertebral disc can herniate, and this can lead to constant neck pain which can radiate through the shoulders, arms and down the back. Such neck pain can be treated through a cervical fusion surgery.
In this procedure, the doctor will make a small incision in your neck to access the cervical spine, which consists of seven bones. He will then separate the soft tissues of the neck to remove the bone spurs and intervertebral disc. The bone spurs are tough ends of bone that develop around the herniated disc. He will then fill the space between the vertebrae with a small piece of bone. Over a period of time, the vertebrae will ultimately join together.
The piece of bone for the graft can be either removed from the body, like from your hip, or may be obtained from a bone bank. There is little chance of rejection because the bone does not contain blood cells.
The procedure can take between 2 to 4 hours. Recovery may generally take between four and six weeks. Your recovery may be speeded up if you are a non-smoker. Smoking seems to inhibit bone growth. You may also be required to wear a neck brace while you recover from the surgery in order to stabilize your neck and allow fusion to take place. There may also be some difficulties in speaking and swallowing. For the surgery to be successful, it’s very important that the patient take great care during the recovery process.
Robert Fleming is an Atlanta car accident lawyer, helping victims of car/auto and truck accidents recover the compensation to which they are entitled.
