Treatment for Cervical Kyphosis in New Jersey
Cervical kyphosis is when the cervical spine has an abnormal curve to it. When it is severe, it can cause the patient pain. Dr. Branko Skovrlj of NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in complex spine procedures. With locations across northern New Jersey, NU-Spine specializes in minimally invasive spinal surgery.
What Is Cervical Kyphosis?
Cervical kyphosis, also known as military neck, is a rare spinal disorder that affects the cervical spine, or the bones in the neck. The condition is described as an abnormal curvature of the cervical spine into a C-shaped curve. Cervical kyphosis can leave a person disabled, and unable to work or move normally, which can affect their quality of life. This spinal dysfunction occurs in both children and adults.
A healthy spine has a natural curve to it that:
- Supports the weight of the head
- Provides adequate protection and flexibility for the brain stem
- Helps maintain a healthy posture and proper balance
When a patient develops a forward curvature of the vertebrae in the neck, they lose the natural arc of their cervical spine. The cervical spine may also straighten, which is still abnormal and can cause symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Military Neck?
There are many symptoms of cervical kyphosis, and not every patient will experience the same symptoms. Signs of kyphosis include:
- Stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Pain in fingers and toes
- Problems with coordination
- Weak muscles
- Abnormal spine curvature
In more extreme cases of cervical kyphosis, people may experience paralysis and problems with bladder and bowel control. These symptoms may become more likely if kyphosis is left untreated.
Is Cervical Kyphosis a Disability?
Kyphosis is a disability and can affect every region of the spine, including the upper back, the mid-back, and the lower back. When it happens in the neck, kyphosis changes the natural lordotic or inward curve of the vertebrae into an outward “C” curve. This change in curvature can cause many problems with someone’s overall health, such as:
- A difference in shoulder height from one side to the other
- Mild back pain
- Spine stiffness
- Weakness and numbness in the arms and hands
- Shortness of breath
- Problems swallowing and breathing
- A chin-to-chest deformity
- Dropped head syndrome in severe cases
- Body image problems, leading to low self-esteem
This spinal deformity alters some of the body’s functions. For example, it can limit neck movements. Kyphosis can give someone a hunchback appearance if it happens in the lower neck area. It can also affect the way someone moves.
What Causes Cervical Kyphosis?
Cervical kyphosis is a rare condition. It can stem from several causes, including:
- Trauma, including a whiplash injury to the cervical spine
- A neck injury that leads to a compression injury
- Spinal fractures, including broken or crushed cervical vertebrae, from an accident
- A severely compressed nerve in the neck
- Degenerative disc disease in older adults
- Congenital kyphosis, which is a birth defect from the improper development of the spine
- Medical conditions, such as a spinal infection, osteoporosis, a tumor, cancer in the spine, muscular dystrophy, neurofibromatosis, Scheuermann’s disease, and Paget’s disease
- Surgical complications
Some risk factors for developing kyphosis include osteoporosis and hereditary factors. At NU-Spine, spine specialists rely on a patient-centered process, starting with a complete evaluation to identify the specific underlying cause. This approach directs the spine specialist to the most effective cervical kyphosis treatment for reducing pain and restoring mobility.
Cervical Kyphosis Treatment Options
If patients notice problems with pain or flexibility of the neck, they should visit NU-Spine in northern New Jersey for a comprehensive diagnosis. With the recent advances in spinal treatment, spine specialists can now restore or realign the curvature of the cervical spine. After a comprehensive evaluation determines a diagnosis of cervical kyphosis, Dr. Skovrlj offers a range of non-surgical treatments if the condition is stable and not causing too much discomfort, such as:
- Ice and heat therapy for pain relief
- Pain medications
- Targeted physical therapy
- A neck brace, such as a Milwaukee brace or a supraclavicular brace
If a patient needs neck surgery, they will discuss options with the spine surgeon, whether it’s a minimally invasive or traditional procedure. Then, the spinal specialist will recommend a cervical kyphosis treatment option to restore the curvature of the cervical spine and decompress the spinal cord. Options include:
- Cervical foraminotomy or discectomy: A minimally invasive procedure that widens the spinal cord, so it relieves pressure on pinched nerves.
- Cervical disc replacement: Another minimally invasive procedure, a disc replacement involves a neurosurgeon replacing a disc that doesn’t function properly.
- Laminectomy: The removal of the lamina, which is the part of the vertebral bone that covers and protects the spinal column, from the vertebra to relieve neck pain.
- Cervical fusion: A procedure that joins two or more vertebrae together permanently, making one solid bone with no space in between.
- TLIF: A transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, or TLIF, removes an intervertebral disc, and then joins two or more spinal bones together, using hardware to replace what is extracted.
- XLIF: Known as NuVasive XLIF, this procedure uses minimally invasive techniques to fuse vertebrae after discs are removed.
- A revision surgery: A revision surgery is an additional procedure that is done after an initial spine surgery.
Treat Cervical Kyphosis at NU-Spine
The world-renowned staff at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute are advocates of minimally invasive spine surgery. The team at NU-Spine believes the technique is just as effective, or more so, than traditional spine surgery, but it is less invasive, leading to a quicker healing time for the patient.
Whether a patient has cervical kyphosis or is seeking a more accurate diagnosis of neck and back pain, they should visit NU-Spine as soon as possible. We are conveniently located in Paramus, Woodbridge, Toms River, Jersey City, and Holmdel, New Jersey.
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