Cervical spinal fusion (arthrodesis) is a surgery that joins selected bones in the neck. There are different methods of doing a cervical spinal fusion:  Bone can be taken from elsewhere in your body or obtained from a bone bank (a bone graft). The bone is used to make a bridge between vertebrae that are next to each other (adjacent). This bone graft stimulates the growth of new bone. Man-made (artificial) fusion materials may also be used.  Metal implants can be used to hold the vertebrae together until new bone grows between them.  Metal plates can be screwed into the bone, joining adjacent vertebrae.   An entire vertebra can be removed, and the spine then fused.  A spinal disc can be removed and the adjacent vertebrae fused.

A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in your brain or close to your brain.  Many different types of brain tumors exist. Some brain tumors are noncancerous (benign), and some brain tumors are cancerous (malignant). Brain tumors can begin in your brain (primary brain tumors), or cancer can begin in other parts of your body and spread to your brain (secondary, or metastatic, brain tumors).

An aneurysm is a bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. If an aneurysm grows large, it can burst and cause dangerous bleeding or even death.  Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, the main artery that runs from the heart through the chest and abdomen. Aneurysms also can happen in arteries in the brain, heart and other parts of the body. If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it causes a stroke.

Peripheral nerve surgery can relieve chronic pain in some patients. Broadly speaking, there are three instances where peripheral nerve surgery may be of benefit.

1. Nerve Compression

Firstly, when the chronic pain is caused by nerve compression. This includes the relatively common conditions of carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. Nerve compression can develop for no particular reason but it can also be the result of trauma or surgery. Relief of this type of pain can be achieved by surgical decompression. For individuals who have nerve compression as a result of trauma or surgery, a good result from surgical decompression is most likely if the pain can be completely temporarily relieved by injection of local anaesthetic at the area of suspected compression.

2. Neuroma

Secondly, surgery may be of benefit when the chronic pain is caused by a neuroma. A neuroma can grow at the site of an injured nerve, and comprises regrowing nerve ends that form a little ball because they have nowhere to grow. A neuroma is often exquisitely tender to pressure. Removing the neuroma and placing the cut nerve end where it will be less likely to be subjected to pressure can be of great benefit to individuals who have chronic pain from a neuroma.

3. Denervation Surgery

Thirdly, surgery may be of benefit when the chronic pain affects a region of the body that can be denervated - where the nerves to the body region (often a joint) are severed. This treatment is only suitable in select cases. The treatment cannot be guaranteed and may not be permanent in all patients, as it is possible that a) not all the involved nerves will be able to be identified, and b) in some instances the nerves may regrow. Often numbness of the skin is a tradeoff of the surgery - while the cut nerve no longer transmits pain signals, it also does not transmit sensation signals.

Spinal fusion is surgery to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in your spine, eliminating motion between them.  Spinal fusion involves techniques designed to mimic the normal healing process of broken bones. During spinal fusion, your surgeon places bone or a bonelike material within the space between two spinal vertebrae. Metal plates, screws and rods may be used to hold the vertebrae together, so they can heal into one solid unit.

A spinal tumor is a growth that develops within your spinal canal or within the bones of your spine. It may be cancerous or noncancerous.

Tumors that affect the bones of the spine (vertebrae) are known as vertebral tumors.

Tumors that begin within the spinal cord itself are called spinal cord tumors. There are two main types of tumors that may affect the spinal cord: Intramedullary tumors begin in the cells within the spinal cord itself, such as astrocytomas or ependymomas.

Extramedullary tumors develop within the supporting network of cells around the spinal cord. Although they don't begin within the spinal cord itself, these types of tumors may affect spinal cord function by causing spinal cord compression and other problems. Examples of extramedullary tumors that can affect the spinal cord include schwannomas, meningiomas and neurofibromas.