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Treatment Neurology & Neurosurgery

Cervical Disc Herniation
Treatments

Conservative treatment for cervical disc herniation includes:

  • Rest
  • Cervical collar or neck brace
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Steroid medication
  • Physical therapy that may include cervical traction

About 10 percent of cervical herniation patients require surgery. Surgical procedures are available depending on the severity of herniation. They include:

  • Microdiscectomy or removal of the herniated part of the disc.
  • Anterior cervical decompression and fusion in which the disc is removed and the vertebrae are fused together by means of a dowel bone graft, which comes from cadaver bone, between the vertebrae.
  • Cervical endoscopic foramenotomy, with or without discectomy, is a minimally invasive procedure in which the herniated disc material is removed using tiny incisions.

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.

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