Although most neck cartilage problems can be treated with conservative treatments, there is a small percentage that may require surgical operations, if these treatment methods fail, or symptoms worsen to the point of affecting the arms or legs.

Surgery to treat neck cartilage disease includes removing the cartilage that is pressing on the nerves and spinal cord, and is called a discectomy, then the space is closed after eradication by either artificial cervical disc replacement or cervical fusion. In general, the doctor will explain the potential risks of neck operations, which may include:

• Heavy bleeding.
• Complications of anesthesia.
• Infection at the wound site that may spread to the bones and vertebrae.
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak.
• Injury to surrounding tissues such as blood vessels, nerves, or the vocal cords (causing a change in voice), or the esophagus.
• The vertebrae do not fully heal.
• chronic pain
• Breathing difficulty.