Davis to have neck surgery, break from campaign

AUSTIN - Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, is taking a detour from the campaign trail Wednesday for neck surgery to remove bone spurs and degenerative discs.

"This is a common issue experienced by runners and endurance athletes," said Zac Petkanas, Davis' communications director, calling the outpatient operation "a routine surgical procedure."

Davis is having the surgery after experiencing pain in her shoulder and right arm, Petkanas said. It will be performed by Dr. Thomas Ellis, of the Fort Worth Brain and Spine Institute.

It was unclear exactly how long Davis will be off the campaign circuit.

"Senator Davis will return to an approved exercise routine and normal campaign schedule following the Easter holiday and a short break with her family," Petkanas said.

While it is relatively early in Davis' race to the November general election against Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, the prospect of surgery brings back memories for Texas political observers.

Gov. Rick Perry - whom Davis and Abbott are vying to replace - had back surgery in July 2011, six weeks before he announced for president. A spokesman for Perry at the time called it a "minor medical procedure." Perry since has described the operation as "major back surgery" and said its effects played a part in his gaffe-plagued campaign, including the much-mocked "oops" moment during a Michigan debate when he could recall only two of three federal agencies he wanted to close.

'Routine' procedure

That debate performance, other moments of apparent confusion and a memorable New Hampshire appearance in which he giggled and cradled a gift bottle of maple syrup led some observers to question whether Perry was on medication.

The book "Double Down: Game Change 2012," by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann said Perry had downplayed the effects of his back surgery and that he "was ingesting painkillers and having trouble sustaining his attention during meetings with potential bundlers and policy experts."

Asked if he had any concerns about Davis' recovery given what happened with Perry, Petkanas said, "No. It's very routine."

Dr. J. Bob Blacklock, a Houston Methodist Hospital neurosurgeon, said patients who undergo the surgery typically are urged to take a week off afterward. He said, however, that it is not uncommon for patients to have the surgery Friday and be back at work Monday.

Blacklock said returning to work quickly will not harm a patient neurologically or impede healing. He said the reason neurosurgeons recommend a week off is that some patients who try to do too much too quickly can get a neck ache.

Fortunate timing

The surgery Davis will have, an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, is done to relieve symptoms - typically arm pain and finger numbness - caused by one or more pinched nerves.

In the procedure, the surgeon removes the cervical disc that is pressing on nerve roots and replaces it with a wedge-shaped bone graft. The graft is then fused to the vertebrae. The surgery is performed through an incision in the front of the neck.

The surgery typically takes about an hour and a half. Most patients spend the night at the hospital, said Blacklock.

Politically speaking, Trinity University political scientist David Crockett said, it helps that it is spring.

"If you have to do something, in terms of timing, better now than in the fall, just because the closer we get to Labor Day weekend, which is always sort of the traditional kickoff for the fall campaign, you'll be really busy," he said. "You don't want to spend several days of your campaign knocked out because you're prepping for surgery, doing surgery and recovering from surgery."

It is especially important for Davis to have an energetic campaign, Crockett said, "since she's running as an underdog."

Little change in poll

A survey by Public Policy Polling, conducted April 10-13, found Abbott with 51 percent support to 37 percent for Davis. The margin is largely unchanged from the firm's last poll in early November. The survey was conducted of 559 registered voters April 10-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. PPP said 80 percent of the interviews were conducted over the phone and 20 percent over the Internet to account for people without land-line phones.

Davis supporters questioned the poll.

Ray Sullivan, a lobbyist who is Perry's former gubernatorial chief of staff and was communications director for his presidential bid, kept it simple when asked if he had any advice for Davis' camp, given Perry's experience.

"It is always wise for high-profile candidates to be transparent and forthcoming about such health matters," Sullivan said. "Senator Davis would be wise to give herself ample time to recover understanding that surgery impacting the spine can have lingering and sometimes unexpected impacts."

Reporter Todd Ackerman contributed to this story.