When is surgery needed for cervical myelopathy?

Surgery is generally recommended when spinal cord compression causes functional deficits like hand clumsiness or balance instability. Because the spinal cord has a limited ability to heal, early decompression is critical to prevent permanent disability.

Can cervical myelopathy worsen over time?

Yes. Clinical evidence suggests cervical myelopathy is often progressive, frequently following a 'step-wise' decline where neurological function does not return to baseline without surgical intervention.

What surgery is used to treat cervical myelopathy?

Surgical options depend on anatomy but commonly include Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Cervical Disc Replacement, or posterior approaches like Laminoplasty and Laminectomy with Fusion.

Is cervical myelopathy serious?

It is a serious condition involving spinal cord compression. Left untreated, it can lead to permanent loss of motor skills. Evaluation by a board-certified neurosurgeon like Dr. Hawasli is essential.

Best Neurosurgery Procedures in Kansas City

Procedures

Dr. Hawasli provides comprehensive and state-of-the-art neurosurgical care for the Northland community and Kansas City Area.

Compassion

Compassion and patient-centric care is at the core of Dr. Hawasli's care philosophy. Whether you are suffering from paralysis, chronic pain or brain tumors, Dr. Hawasli believes that each person deserves and requires personalized and compassionate care.

Innovation

In order to achieve superior outcomes, Dr. Hawasli utilizes state-of-the-art treatments. These includes image-guided surgery, fluorescence-guided surgery, advanced physical therapy program, enhanced recovery programs, motion-preserving surgery, endoscopy, spinal cord stimulation, minimally-invasive surgery and much more.

Quality

Dr. Hawasli provides the highest quality care in order to achieve the best patient outcomes possible. Through a patient-centered and team-based approach, Dr. Hawasli delivers evidence-based quality medical care.

Brain and Spine Tumor Surgery | Advanced Medicine

Dr. Ammar Hawasli provides comprehensive and state-of-the-art care for tumors of the brain and spine. Dr. Hawasli has extensive experience in the management of malignant primary brain tumors, metastases to the brain and spine, benign tumors of the brain and spine and spinal cord tumors. His comprehensive experience in neurooncological surgery includes computer-assisted brain surgery, fluorescence-guided surgery, endoscopic surgery, transphenoidal surgery, awake brain surgery, laser interstitial thermal therapy, minimally-invasive surgery for removal of tumors and hematomas, stereotactic radiosurgery, vertebrectomies, and complex spinal reconstructions. Dr. Hawasli utilizes his broad and state-of-the-art experience and multidisciplinary collaborators to give each patient the best outcome possible.

Minimally-invasive surgery for brain tumors, hydrocephalus and hematomas

Dr. Hawasli removes a meningioma

Malignant brain tumor cells take on a luminescent pink color during state-of-the-art 5-ALA fluorescence-guided resection.

Dr. Hawasli removing spinal tumors

Cervical Spine Surgery | Motion Preservation and Superior Outcomes

Dr. Ammar Hawasli's deep experience and fellowship training in cervical spine surgery allows him to provide superior outcomes to all patients with cervical spine disorders. His procedures range from minimally invasive microsurgery to the most complex "chin-on-chest" deformities. He has particular interests in cervical radiculopathy, cervical myelopathy, spinal cord injuries, spinal tumors, cervical stenosis, cervical deformities, artificial disc replacements and laminoplasties. When possible, he offers motion-preserving treatments such as disc replacements, laminoplasties and posterior foraminotomies. However, when necessary, he expertly performs anterior, posterior and circumferential cervical spinal reconstructions. He has been recognized by and received research awards from the Cervical Spine Research Society and worked very closely with numerous renowned thought leaders in Cervical Spine Surgery. Cervical spine patients of Dr. Hawasli can rest assured that they will receive superior and state-of-the-art treatments for their cervical spine disorder, and this will afford them with the best outcome possible.

Top Row: Cervical Disc Replacements - Simplify and Mobi-C Arthroplasty

Bottom Row: Anterior and Posterior Spinal Decompression and Reconstruction Procedures

Complex Spinal Surgery | Innovation

As a fellowship-trained spinal neurosurgeon, Dr. Hawasli provides a comprehensive repertoire of spinal surgery treatments ranging from microsurgical decompressions to complex spinal reconstructions. He has extensive training in classic neurosurgical procedures such as surgery for spinal tumors or herniated discs to complex orthopedic operations to address deformities of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine. When at all possible, Dr. Hawasli utilizes a conservative-approach. Most of his patients undergo non-surgical treatments prior to pre-surgical optimization and a patient-centric surgical treatment.

Dr. Hawasli performing the first Navigated Robotic Spine Surgery in Missouri.

top rated neurosurgeons in kansas city area

Dr. Hawasli performing a complex spinal reconstruction.

General Neurosurgery | Quality

With his broad education and training in neurosurgery, Dr. Hawasli can offer patients in the Northland a comprehensive neurosurgical treatment program for all surgical conditions of the brain and spine. He collaborates with primary care physicians, pain management doctors, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, physical therapists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, hospitalists and many other clinicians throughout the Kansas City Area.