Dealing with Neck Injuries

Maksim "Max" Shlykov, M.D., M.S., is a Fellowship-trained, orthopedic spine surgeon with The Maryland Spine Center, part of The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy. Dr. Shlykov recently responded to a query concerning neck injuries, when they can occur and how best to treat.

Neck injuries can occur as a result of a fall, car crash or overexertion. They can be prevented by use of appropriate safety devices, fall prevention - especially in the elderly population - and avoiding heavy lifting/overexertion and following proper lifting techniques.

Fatal neck injuries are rare and only about 10 to 50 patients per million suffer spinal cord injuries in the general population that may potentially prove to be fatal. However, when patients have underlying spinal compression the rates of spinal cord injury are as high as 2 to 14 per 1,000 people.

Physicians treat serious neck injuries by first evaluating the patient and immobilizing the neck. A careful examination is performed and is followed by imaging studies to assess for fractures and potential nerve/spinal cord injury or compression. Some injuries can be treated non-operatively with immobilization in a neck collar device, but occasionally surgery is needed from either the front or back of the neck, and occasionally through combined approaches, to stabilize the spine and decompress the nerves and spinal cord.

Dr. Shlykov combines his advanced training and surgical techniques to offer the latest minimally invasive treatment options. He completed his Orthopedic Spine Fellowship and Orthopedic Surgery Residency training at the prestigious Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School as well as a Master's Degree in Biology and Bioinformatics at the University of California San Diego.