An animation displaying multilevel cervical annuloplasty procedure. Structures highlighted in this animation include the cervical spine, brain, spinal cord, and intervertebral discs. This patient presents with numerous disc bulges and herniations and the pain that originates in the injured discs are transmitted to the brain via the spinal cord. In the cross-sectional view of the spinal cord, there are tears through all the annulus layers that lead to an inflammatory response, causing inflammation of the posterior disc and epidural space. The herniation of the nucleus into the outer third of the annulus causes irritation of the intradiscal nerves, resulting in pain. Treatment involves inserting a needle through the cervical spine and lasering parts of the annulus to stop the release of the inflammatory compounds into the annulus and eliminating pain impulses at their origin.
