Cervical spinal fusion (arthrodesis) is a surgery that joins selected bones in the neck (cervical spine). There are different methods of doing a cervical spinal fusion:
- Bone can be taken from elsewhere in your body or obtained from a bone bank (a bone graft). The bone is used to make a bridge between vertebrae that are next to each other (adjacent). This bone graft stimulates the growth of new bone. Man-made (artificial) fusion materials may also be used.
- Metal implants can be used to hold the vertebrae together until new bone grows between them.
- Metal plates can be screwed into the bone, joining adjacent vertebrae.
- An entire vertebra can be removed, and the spine then fused.
- A spinal disc can be removed and the adjacent vertebrae fused.
This procedure can be done through an incision on the front (anterior) or back (posterior) of the neck.