Why would I need neck surgery?
Even with extensive surgical expertise, Dr. Doherty doesn’t recommend neck surgery to anyone unless they’ve first tried nonsurgical treatments. He and his team at Yale Neurosurgery New London — which consists of an additional surgeon and two physician assistants — work with you to explore all of your other treatment options first, which may include:
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Pain-relieving injections
- Posture correction
But when these less-invasive treatments don’t offer relief, the staff talks with you about neck surgery and what it can do to relieve your pain and improve your condition. If you have ongoing neck pain that is negatively affecting your quality of life, this procedure can be life-changing.
What will neck surgery accomplish?
Neck surgery can:
- Relieve pressure on the nerves causing your pain
- Restore stability to your neck
- Decompress your spinal cord
Dr. Doherty and his team talk with you about the goal for your specific neck surgery and the results you should expect from it. Some of the types of neck surgery Dr. Doherty commonly performs include:
- Laminectomies
- Cervical spinal fusions
- Disc replacements
- Laminoplasties
- Anterior cervical corpectomies and fusions
- Anterior cervical discectomies and fusions
Additionally, whenever possible, Dr. Doherty offers robotic surgery.
What is robotic neck surgery?
For robotic neck surgery, Dr. Doherty uses the ExcelsiusGPS® platform. This technology includes a hyper-precise robotic arm that Dr. Doherty controls during your procedure, giving him greater accuracy than is possible with human hands.
With integrated navigation, this robotic surgery technology allows Dr. Doherty to accomplish the goals for your surgery while minimizing the impact on the surrounding area. This lessens your recovery time while helping you get the best outcome possible from your neck surgery.
And your care doesn’t stop after your procedure. The Yale Neurosurgery New London team offers post-operative care, supporting you — and your healing — during your recovery period.
When other treatments haven’t delivered the pain relief you need, it’s time to start exploring neck surgery. If you’re ready to do so, contact Yale Neurosurgery New London by calling the office or requesting a consultation online.
