Dr. Radcliff is considered one of New Jersey’s most proficient specialists in cervical spine surgery, having performed approximately 2,500 neck surgeries and 150 artificial disc replacement surgeries.
Dr. Radcliff performs five specialized procedures:
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- Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement
- Cervical Lamino-Foraminotomy
- Cervical Laminoplasty
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
- Posterior Cervical Laminectomy & Fusion
All three of these surgeries are minimally invasive and non-fusion, designed to retain the natural movement of the neck and allow the patient to return to normal activity faster.
Additionally, Dr. Radcliff is one of very few spine surgeons in New Jersey who are trained to perform cervical lamino-foraminotomy and cervical laminoplasty.
“Both of these surgeries are motion-preserving, non-fusion neck surgeries,” explains Dr. Radcliff. “These surgeries require specialized expertise in neck surgery because they involve a posterior approach (from the back of the neck), the use of tiny instruments and microsurgery.”
Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement
Unlike other surgeons who typically are trained in one artificial disc implant, Dr. Radcliff is trained in the use of virtually all the FDA-approved artificial discs for the neck. This enables Dr. Radcliff to select the best artificial disc for each patient’s diagnosis and disc herniation.
The goal of cervical disc replacement is to relieve the pressure on your spinal cord or nerves that are causing the pain, numbness, and weakness that can radiate to your shoulder, arm, and hand. Dr. Radcliff typically performs this surgery for patients who have cervical disc herniation or cervical degenerative disc disease that is causing chronic neck and/or arm pain that hasn’t been relieved from non-surgical treatments.
Through this type of surgery, you:
- Maintain normal motion in the neck
- Have no complications or issues sometimes associated with a bone graft or fusion
- Have a reduced chance of degenerative disc disease in adjacent cervical joints
With cervical artificial disc replacement surgery, Dr. Radcliff removes the injured disc and replaces it with an artificial disc that is designed to replicate natural motion.
VIDEO: Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement
Cervical Lamino-Foraminotomy
Unlike many neck surgeries that involve fusion, where two vertebrae are locked together, the cervical lamino-foraminotomy procedure avoids fusing the neck vertebrae, which retains the natural movement in the neck.
While “motion preservation” is the goal of most surgeries, most spine surgeons are not able to perform this type of procedure because of the experience needed.
“This type of neck surgery requires the use of a microscope and the use of small 1mm and 2mm instruments to repair the damaged disc rather than removing all of the disc and replacing it with a fusion and metal instrumentation,” Dr. Radcliff explains.
A cervical lamino-foraminotomy is a minimally invasive surgery designed to relieve pressure on the nerve roots in the neck that is causing pain not resolved by conservative therapies such as physical therapy and medication.
Dr. Radcliff most commonly performs cervical lamino-foraminotomy to treat cervical radiculopathy, a condition where nerves in the neck are compressed due to disc herniation, causing radiating neck pain that spreads into the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Cervical Laminoplasty
Like the cervical lamino-foraminotomy, this surgery is also performed through the back of the neck and is intended to retain the natural movement of the neck after surgery. The surgery involves great proficiency and the use of a microscope.
The difference between a laminectomy and a laminoplasty is that more of the lamina is left in place in a laminoplasty procedure. Also, in a laminoplasty, the trained neck surgeon leaves more of the normal bone and ligaments intact, which provides a protective layer that lessens scar tissue formation on the dural sac after surgery.
This type of surgical procedure reshapes or repositions bone to relieve stress on the spinal nerves in the neck. Lamina is the roof of bone over the back of the spinal cord and plastos means “to mold.”
VIDEO: Cervical Laminoplasty
VIDEO: Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion
Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion, or ACDF, is a Surgery that Dr. Radcliff performs to reduce or eliminate chronic pain in the neck or arm caused by a disc problem. ACDF can be used to treat herniated discs, arthritis, bone spurs, and stenosis in the cervical spine.
During the procedure, he will remove a piece of damaged disc tissue in the neck area to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. In some cases, by removing a piece of the shock-absorbing disc that separates the two vertebrae, the structures may become less stable. Consequently, when the disc is removed, Dr. Radcliff may recommend “fusing” the vertebrae to prevent instability.
Dr. Radcliff may use bone from the patient’s hip or from a bone bank to stabilize two vertebrae after a discectomy. During a fusion surgery, the disc is removed, and the surgeon inserts a small wedge of bone in between the two vertebrae to restore the disc space. Over time, the two vertebrae “fuse” together into a solid structure. While this limits movement and flexibility, it can also help to ease pain.
The decision to fuse or not to fuse can be a complex one. Dr. Radcliff will base the decision on the assessment of two factors: the amount of instability that a discectomy will cause and how much disc space is necessary to restore.
Dr. Radcliff has performed over 5,000 of these procedures. He has trained other surgeons on cervical spine surgery including ACDF at several premier labs in the world.
Posterior Cervical Laminectomy & Fusion
During this procedure, Dr. Radcliff will remove a piece of damaged disc tissue in the neck area to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. In some cases, by removing a piece of the shock-absorbing disc that separates the two vertebrae, the structures may become less stable. Consequently, when the disc is removed, Dr. Radcliff may recommend “fusing” the vertebrae to prevent instability.
A cervical laminectomy is performed to make more room in the spinal cord and nerves, relieving pressure, irritation, and inflammation around the nerves due to bone spurs. This surgery is generally performed if you have three or more herniated discs. Laminectomy may also be used in cases of spinal stenosis in which the entire canal is narrowed like a ring on a swollen finger.
Dr. Radcliff may recommend a cervical laminectomy and fusion if:
- Nonsurgical treatments have been ineffective
- You have muscle weakness or numbness
- You have decreased bowel or bladder control
VIDEO: Laminectomy, Cervical Spine (with Fusion)