Stepping Hill Hospital is now carrying out a specialist form of neck surgery to provide swifter treatment for patients with spinal cord or nerve compression.

The neck surgery, which is medically referred to as cervical spine or C-spine surgery, involves the removal of discs or bones to treat these painful conditions. They can be caused by slipped discs pressing on the nerves which can cause arm pain, or on the spinal cord which can cause people to fall over and, in severe cases, even paralysis.

In the Greater Manchester region, this specialist surgery was previously only available at Salford Royal hospital. Stepping Hill Hospital is only the second hospital in the area to perform these operations.

This surgery can also help patients with certain types of cancer and infections. David Kick, a 56 year old HGV driver from Offerton in Stockport was rushed to hospital with a neck abscess, which is a deep neck infection which can often be fatal. He had developed diabetes, which was uncontrolled, and this had led to the severe infection.

When David arrived at Stepping Hill Hospital he was unable to move his arms or legs and had septicaemia, a life-threatening blood infection. He was rushed from the hospital’s A&E and acute medical unit for an emergency neck (C-spine) operation to drain the abscess and another abscess was drained from his leg . With a longer delay he may not have survived.

David was in intensive care for ten days, but is now recovering well on the hospital’s spinal ward. He will soon be moving to their off-site Devonshire Unit, but is now walking again and hopes to be up and about for his son’s wedding in June.

David said, “I’m so grateful that Stepping Hill Hospital now does this surgery, as it’s made all the difference for me. I’ve been here eight weeks and the care I’ve had from all the staff has been extraordinary.’

The C-spine surgery is carried out by a team led by surgeon Mr Parmjit Sian.

Mr Sian said, “The fact that we can now carry out this surgery at Stepping Hill Hospital can mean the difference between life and death for a patient like David

“It’s complex surgery as the cervical spine contains seven bones, called the cervical vertebrae. These bones are stacked on top of one another and linked by discs, ligaments, and muscles, with the spinal cord running through the centre.

“The surgical goal is to reduce pain and restore spinal stability. Patients generally have rapid recovery and quickly return to activities of daily living with complete recovery of their neck pain and other symptoms.”