Spine: surgery for cervical radiculopathy: practice question

A Orthopaedics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Orthopaedics · Spine: surgery for cervical radiculopathy

Sample item

A 45-year-old has persistent C6 radiculopathy after 12 weeks of conservative treatment. MRI shows a single-level soft disc herniation at C5-C6 with a normal cord and no myelopathy. Which operation is most commonly performed?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at C5-C6

A single-level soft disc causing a refractory radiculopathy is treated by anterior cervical discectomy with fusion or disc replacement. Laminoplasty and corpectomy are used for multilevel cord compression with myelopathy.

Option by option

  • A. Multilevel corpectomy with strut graft

    Corpectomy is reserved for multilevel disease or compression behind the vertebral body.

  • B. Posterior laminoplasty from C3 to C7

    Laminoplasty decompresses the cord across multiple levels in myelopathy.

  • C. Occipitocervical fusion

    Occipitocervical fusion treats craniocervical instability and has no role in a C5-C6 disc.

  • D. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at C5-C6 (correct)

    Correct. Single-level soft disc radiculopathy is treated by anterior discectomy and fusion.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Orthopaedics questions

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is D, Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at C5-C6. A single-level soft disc causing a refractory radiculopathy is treated by anterior cervical discectomy with fusion or disc replacement.

Why is "Multilevel corpectomy with strut graft" not the answer?

Corpectomy is reserved for multilevel disease or compression behind the vertebral body.

Why is "Posterior laminoplasty from C3 to C7" not the answer?

Laminoplasty decompresses the cord across multiple levels in myelopathy.

Why is "Occipitocervical fusion" not the answer?

Occipitocervical fusion treats craniocervical instability and has no role in a C5-C6 disc.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spine: surgery for cervical radiculopathy in Orthopaedics. Laminoplasty and corpectomy are used for multilevel cord compression with myelopathy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Spine: surgery for cervical radiculopathy?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.