Cervical Spine Surgery
Expert Cervical Spine Care from Han Jo Kim, MD — Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery
The cervical spine — the seven vertebrae of your neck — protects the spinal cord, supports the weight of your head, and enables nearly every movement above your shoulders. When something goes wrong in this delicate region, the consequences can range from a stiff neck to radiating arm pain, numbness, weakness, and in serious cases, spinal cord compression. The right diagnosis and the right surgeon make the difference between an outcome you regret and one that gives you your life back.
Han Jo Kim, MD is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) — the #1 ranked orthopedic hospital in the United States — whose surgical practice focuses specifically on cervical spine and complex spinal deformity. Patients travel from across NYC, Long Island, the Tri-state area, and beyond for his expertise in everything from single-level cervical disc replacement to complex cervical osteotomies for deformity correction.
Book a Consultation | Call 212-774-2837
HSS – The Pavilion
541 East 71st Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10021
Tel: +212.774.2837
Fax: 646.797.8428
HSS Long Island – The Omni
333 Earle Ovington Blvd, Suite 106
Uniondale, NY 11553
Tel: +212.774.2837
Understanding Cervical Spine Conditions
Most cervical spine problems start the same way: a disc, joint, or ligament that has worn over time, or a sudden injury, begins to irritate a nearby nerve or the spinal cord itself. The symptoms depend less on where the wear is than on which structure it’s pressing on.
Symptoms That Warrant a Specialist Evaluation
- Persistent neck pain that hasn’t responded to several weeks of conservative care
- Pain radiating into the shoulder, arm, or hand
- Numbness or tingling in the arm, hand, or fingers
- Weakness in the arm or hand — difficulty gripping, dropping objects, fine-motor changes
- Balance problems, clumsiness, or changes in walking
- Loss of dexterity (trouble buttoning shirts, handling small objects)
- Bowel or bladder changes — a red flag that warrants urgent evaluation
The arm and hand symptoms suggest a nerve root compression. Balance, gait, and dexterity changes can indicate compression of the spinal cord itself (cervical myelopathy), which is a more serious condition and a reason to be seen sooner rather than later.
Common Cervical Spine Conditions
- Cervical herniated disc. A disc bulges or ruptures and presses on a nerve root, causing radiating arm pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Cervical spinal stenosis. Narrowing of the spinal canal compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots, often producing arm symptoms and, in more advanced cases, gait or balance problems.
- Cervical spondylosis. Age-related wear of the discs, facet joints, and ligaments — sometimes called arthritis of the neck.
- Cervical myelopathy. Compression of the spinal cord itself, typically from spondylosis or stenosis. The reason this gets emphasized is that progressive myelopathy can cause permanent neurological deficits if not addressed.
- Cervical radiculopathy. A pinched nerve in the neck, producing pain or weakness down the corresponding arm.
- Degenerative disc disease. Loss of disc height and hydration that changes how the cervical spine carries load.
- Cervical instability. Excessive motion between vertebrae, often from trauma or advanced degeneration.
- Cervical deformity. Abnormal alignment of the neck, including kyphosis and complex post-surgical deformities.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Most cervical spine conditions improve without surgery. Dr. Kim begins with the least invasive option that fits the diagnosis and works closely with pain specialists, physiatrists in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and physical therapists to coordinate care.
- Physical therapy with a clinician experienced in cervical spine conditions — targeted strengthening, posture work, and mobility exercises tailored to the diagnosis.
- Medications including anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and neuropathic pain medications when nerve symptoms are present.
- Activity and ergonomic modifications — workstation setup, screen position, and changes to high-load activities.
- Image-guided injections including cervical epidural steroid injections to reduce inflammation around an irritated nerve root.
A note on home exercises: generic neck exercises that help one patient can worsen another, particularly when there’s nerve or cord compression. Work with a physical therapist who has evaluated your specific condition before adopting a routine.
When to Consider Cervical Spine Surgery
Cervical spine surgery is reserved for patients whose symptoms persist despite a meaningful trial of non-surgical care, or whose findings warrant earlier intervention. The clearest indications include:
- Progressive neurological symptoms (worsening weakness, numbness, balance changes)
- Signs of cervical myelopathy
- Persistent arm pain or weakness from a confirmed nerve compression after conservative care
- Significant instability or deformity that conservative care cannot address
- Severe stenosis with documented cord compression
Dr. Kim is candid with patients about when surgery offers a meaningful benefit and when it doesn’t. Operating too early on a problem that would have resolved is one mistake; waiting too long on a problem that’s causing nerve damage is another. The judgment between them is the work.
Surgical Procedures Dr. Kim Performs
Dr. Kim performs the full range of cervical spine procedures, from single-level outpatient operations to multi-level reconstructions for complex deformity.
The most common cervical procedure. Through a small incision in the front of the neck, the disc is removed, the nerve is decompressed, and the level is fused to restore stability. Excellent track record for relieving arm pain from a herniated disc.
A motion-preserving alternative to ACDF for selected patients. An artificial disc replaces the worn one and preserves motion at that segment, which reduces stress on adjacent levels. Dr. Kim is well known in the New York area for cervical artificial disc work.
For multi-level disease, significant instability, or specific deformity patterns where a back approach is the right answer.
Reshapes the lamina to open the spinal canal and decompress the cord while preserving motion. A motion-preserving alternative to laminectomy and fusion for selected myelopathy patients.
Removes the lamina to decompress the spinal cord and nerve roots. Often combined with fusion when stability is a concern.
Targeted decompression of a single nerve root, often performed through a posterior or minimally invasive approach.
A complex correction procedure that involves controlled bone cuts to restore alignment in patients with significant cervical deformity, including post-traumatic deformity, ankylosing spondylitis, and revision cases. These are among the most technically demanding spine operations and are not performed at most centers.
For patients with persistent symptoms, hardware issues, or adjacent-segment problems after a prior cervical operation.
The right procedure depends on the diagnosis, the levels involved, the patient’s anatomy, and the goals of surgery. Dr. Kim walks every patient through the reasoning before recommending an approach.
Recovery After Cervical Spine Surgery
Recovery varies by procedure. A general framework:
- Single-level ACDF or disc replacement: often an outpatient or one-night stay; soft collar for a short period; gradual return to light activity over 2 to 4 weeks; most patients back to desk work within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Multi-level or posterior fusion: 1 to 3 nights in the hospital; longer activity restrictions; gradual return to most activities over 6 to 12 weeks.
- Cervical osteotomy or complex reconstruction: longer hospital stay and recovery timeline, with milestones over 3 to 6 months.
HSS’s enhanced recovery protocols are designed to control pain, get patients moving sooner, and shorten hospital stays. Dr. Kim and his team coordinate closely with physical therapy throughout recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your specific anatomy and pathology. Cervical disc replacement is an excellent option for many patients with single-level disc disease and good preservation of the facet joints. ACDF remains the right choice for others, particularly with multi-level disease, instability, or facet arthritis. Dr. Kim discusses the candidacy for each approach during your consultation.
For single-level ACDF or cervical disc replacement, most patients return to desk work within 1 to 2 weeks and are progressing through full activity over 6 to 12 weeks. More complex operations take longer. Dr. Kim gives a specific timeline based on your procedure.
Cervical spine surgery is a major operation but is performed routinely at HSS with excellent outcomes. As with any surgery, there are risks; Dr. Kim reviews these in detail before any procedure.
Cervical myelopathy is compression of the spinal cord (not just a nerve root). Symptoms often include balance changes, loss of hand dexterity, and gait problems. Because progressive myelopathy can cause permanent neurological deficits, it’s typically a reason to consider surgery sooner rather than wait.
A referral may be required by your insurance carrier but is not required to schedule. Our office can help confirm what your plan needs.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Kim for Cervical Spine Surgery
- Hospital for Special Surgery affiliation — the nation’s #1 ranked orthopedic hospital, ranked in 14 adult and pediatric specialties
- Cervical-focused surgical practice — cervical spine and complex deformity are the core of what Dr. Kim does, not a fraction of a broader practice
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor and New York Magazine recognition among top orthopedic spine surgeons
- HSS Professor and Endowed Chair with decades of experience and ongoing teaching and research
- Full range of cervical procedures — from outpatient disc replacement to complex osteotomies for deformity correction, all under one practice
- Coordinated multidisciplinary team — orthopedic surgery, neurology, pain management, and physical medicine and rehabilitation under one roof at HSS
- Enhanced recovery pathway designed to get patients moving sooner and home faster
When to See a Cervical Spine Specialist
Schedule a consultation if you have:
- Neck pain that has lasted more than four to six weeks
- Pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or hand
- Difficulty with fine-motor tasks (buttoning, writing, handling small objects)
- Balance or gait changes alongside neck symptoms
- A previous cervical surgery with new or persistent symptoms
- Symptoms that have not improved with rest, medication, or physical therapy
Bowel or bladder changes, sudden severe weakness, or significant new neurological symptoms warrant emergency evaluation.
Schedule Your Consultation
You shouldn’t have to live with neck pain that limits your work, your sleep, or the things you love to do. Dr. Han Jo Kim and his team offer compassionate, world-class cervical spine care across three convenient New York locations.
Call 212-774-2837 or request an appointment online to schedule your evaluation.