![]() Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF).A part of or the entire lamina on one side of the affected vertebra is removed. Removal of all or part of the laminae (posterior part of the vertebra) to provide more space for the compressed spinal cord and/or nerve roots. ![]() Surgical techniques that may be performed on the C7-T1 motion segment include: Stabilization of the Cervicothoracic Junction. This technique usually provides more stability to the CTJ, especially with severe fractures or rare conditions such as Klippel-Feil syndrome that may cause CTJ problems.Ģ Wang VY, Chou D. While surgically treating the C7-T1 motion segment, surgeons typically fuse C7 and T1 vertebrae together, along with one or more adjacent vertebrae. In order to avoid damage to these structures, a posterior approach may be preferred while surgically treating the CTJ. Presence of important blood vessels and nerves such as the brachiocephalic vein and the thoracic duct.Proximity to vital organs such as the heart and lungs.Lower visibility due to the presence of bones such as the first rib, the collar bone, and the breast bone.Surgery of the C7-T1 vertebral level may be performed from the front (anterior) or back (posterior) of the neck.Īn anterior surgical approach of the CTJ can be challenging due to: Cervicothoracic Trauma: Diagnosis and Treatment. Injuries resulting in progressive neurological deficits, including numbness and/or weakness require surgical consultation and possible intervention.ġ Chen J, Eismont FJ. To help reduce the risk for complications, fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance with radiopaque contrast dye is typically used for accurate needle placement.įor injuries that do not recover with nonsurgical methods or cause progression of symptoms, surgical methods may be considered. Risks of these injection procedures include hematoma, bleeding, and nerve damage. Therapeutic injections: Depending on the source of pain, image-guided spine procedures including but not limited to epidural steroid injection and/or facet blocks can provide symptomatic relief.See Physical Therapy for Neck Pain Relief ![]() Manual therapy and therapeutic exercises may be considered integral parts of any appropriate physical therapy program. Shoulder pain caused by CTJ injuries may be treated with physical therapy under the guidance of a trained physical therapist. See Medications for Back Pain and Neck Pain While some of these medications are available over-the-counter (OTC), others may require prescriptions. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, antiepileptics, muscle relaxants, and/or corticosteroids may be used to relieve pain in CTJ injuries. For this reason, braces used to immobilize the CTJ must be secured to the head above and the shoulders below. Bracing the CTJ is usually challenging because the braces may move upward while reclining from an upright to a lying down position. Certain types of CTJ injuries may be managed by bed rest and immobilization using a neck brace or collar.
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