Innovative Treatment for Neck Pain
When a nerve in your neck is compressed by a bone or bulging spinal disc — the soft material between spine bones (vertebrae) — microscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy can relieve pain and other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness.
Our USC Spine Center surgeons use this innovative, minimally invasive neck pain surgery. It requires just a tiny incision in the back of your neck. Your surgeon removes part of a bone or disc, depending on what’s pressing on your nerve. The surgery creates more space for the nerve, relieving your pain.
Microscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy recovery time is much quicker than with traditional, open surgery. The incision is small, so there’s less tissue damage, pain and scarring.
We use this neck surgery to treat people with a small or moderate herniated disc or only a small area of bone pressing the nerve. This approach may not be right for those with severe neck pain, large herniated discs or neck curvature problems, like cervical kyphosis.
How Microscopic Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Works
Advanced Expertise in Minimally Invasive Neck Surgery
As an academic health center, we use the latest methods to treat neck pain — our surgeons are pioneers in minimally invasive approaches.
This innovative procedure requires just one or two days in the hospital — you get back to enjoying your life sooner.
You get personal attention from a physical therapist before you go home, giving you the information you need to recover safely.
You can expect a team approach to your care, with experts in spine surgery, pain management and rehabilitation, ensuring you get complete care.
Our Locations
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Our Team
Ram Alluri, MD
Medical Specialties
Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Thomas Chen, MD, PhD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery, Brain Tumor, Brain and Tumor Neurosurgery
David Cheng, MD
Medical Specialties
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal…
Raymond Hah, MD
Medical Specialties
Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Patrick Hsieh, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
John Liu, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
Christopher Ornelas, MD
Medical Specialties
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Surgery, Pain Medicine, Interventional Spine…
Michael Safaee, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
Mark Spoonamore, MD
Medical Specialties
Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Gene Tekmyster, DO
Medical Specialties
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal…
Jeffrey Wang, MD
Medical Specialties
Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery