Maryland’s Health Matters - BWMC - Fall 2017 - 8

Using a microscope, surgeons take
out the diseased vertebral disc, freeing
the surrounding pinched nerve roots.

than a traditional fusion."
With the encouragement of her

The disc space is filled with an artificial

husband, Anderson was scheduled

disc, which is then X-rayed to confirm

for surgery two weeks later. After

its proper positioning. The procedure

the brief procedure, she woke up with-

takes about 90 minutes, and patients

out the familiar pain in her arm, and

often go home the same day.

she came home the same day.
"The care I received at UM BWMC

"Most patients wake up after
surgery and report that

was wonderful," says

their symptoms are com-

Anderson. "The day I went

pletely relieved," says Dr.

in for surgery, I had amaz-

Liang. "They find themselves

ing nurses. I'm a nervous

immediately free of pain,

patient, and they were all

and they don't have to wear

really good with me. Dr.

a neck collar after the sur-

Liang, his office staff and

gery. In addition, there is no

everyone who supported

waiting for a bone to fuse,
so they can move freely
neurosurgery at the University of

without stiffness and return

Maryland School of Medicine. But

to normal activities sooner."

choosing which patients should

to do a disc replacement rather

Clifford Solomon, MD

is a meticulous process, he adds.

were wonderfully kind."
After taking five days
off work to recover,
Anderson began moving

EXTRAORDINARY
RESULTS

undergo cervical disc replacement

me through the process

more and interacting with
clients again. She did

After discussing Anderson's

physical therapy two to

we offer the procedure to because

treatment options with

three times a week for

we want them all to be successful,"

her, Dr. Liang determined

a few months to complete

says Dr. Solomon. "While we see

that she would be a good

a lot of patients with cervical problems,

candidate for cervical

only a handful would be candidates

disc replacement.

"We're very selective in the patients

for this procedure."

Danny Liang, MD

"Mia is a young and healthy
person who unfortunately had one

ABOUT THE SURGERY

herniated disc," explains Dr. Liang.

her recovery. She also
made ergonomic changes

to her workspace to make sure she
keeps good posture throughout the
day and maintains a healthy neck.
"As a real estate agent, I'm very

When cervical disc replacement is the

"Since her pain persisted despite all

active and committed to my clients.

best treatment option, the technique is

the non-surgical options, we had to

My symptoms were preventing me

straightforward and relatively brief. Using

decompress the nerve by completely

from performing at my highest level,"

general anesthesia, the surgeon makes

removing the offending disc. In order

says Anderson. "When you don't feel

a one- to two-inch incision on the front

to preserve motion and protect her

good, you can't give it your all. Thanks

of the neck, either on the left or the right

other healthy discs, we decided

to Dr. Liang, I am back to myself."

of the larynx. The trachea and esophagus
are moved out of the way to reach the
spine, which is closer to the front of the
neck than the back, and the procedure
does not require cutting through muscle.

8 MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS

WORDS OF ADVICE FROM MIA ANDERSON
To watch a video about Anderson's experience at UM BWMC's
Spine and Neuroscience Center, visit mybwmc.org/healthy.

If you suffer from neck and back pain, call the Spine and Neuroscience Center at 410-553-8160.

http://www.mybwmc.org/healthy

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - BWMC - Fall 2017