Review Question - QID 219872

A 17-year-old high school football recruit leads with his helmet while attempting a tackle in the presence of scouts from his top-choice collegiate program. After the play, he remains on the field, unable to move his bilateral upper and lower extremities. He is boarded and his helmet and shoulder pads are safely removed on the sideline. Over the ensuing 15 minutes, his motor strength and sensation returned to normal, except for some residual paresthesias in the bilateral upper extremities. He is taken to the nearest hospital for the additional workup shown in Figures A and B, which reveals a Torg-Pavlov ratio of 0.7, and a subsequent MRI that demonstrates a disc herniation at the C5-6 level compressing the cord and a canal diameter of 9 mm above and below the level of the herniation. Which of the following represents the most appropriate course of action for the treatment of this patient?