Summary of Key Points Many pathologies can be addressed through an anterior approach to the cervical spine, with degenerative spine disorders being the most common. The anterior approach to the subaxial cervical spine is a well-tolerated procedure for discectomy, corpectomy,…
Summary of Key Points Posterior minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches to the cervical spine have been shown to have clinical outcomes that are comparable to traditional open approaches, with a reduction in length of hospital stay and narcotic use and…
Summary of Key Points Posterior cervical instrumentation is effective in stabilizing the subaxial cervical spine. Acceptable choices of instrumentation include lateral mass screw fixation and cervical pedicle screws. Careful preoperative planning with an understanding of patient-specific anatomy and instrumentation options…
Summary of Key Points Open-door laminoplasty and double-door laminoplasty are the primary surgical treatment for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Cervical laminoplasty is indicated for patients with multisegmental canal stenosis and lordotic…
Summary of Key Points Cervical spondylosis with resultant neural compression is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults. Compression and dynamic forces on the spine contribute to spinal cord dysfunction in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Posterior approaches to…
Summary of Key Points Understanding the anatomy of the cervical spine and neck is of the utmost importance for the surgeons operating in this region. The anatomy of this region can be classified from superficial to deep and further analyzed…
Summary of Key Points The endoscopic transnasal approaches provide a direct surgical trajectory to anteriorly located lesions at the craniocervical junction. Clinical series demonstrate low rates of postoperative infection after endoscopic transnasal approaches to intradural pathology despite nasal contamination. Endoscopic…
Summary of Key Points The upper cervical spine presents many unique challenges to successful stabilization, including complex anatomy and limited access corridors. Because of the high degree of mobility at these levels, internal screw fixation is often required to achieve…
Summary of Key Points Instability of the craniocervical junction can result in severe neurological compromise. Instability can result from traumatic, neoplastic, rheumatological, infectious, congenital, or iatrogenic etiologies. The dorsal approach is most commonly used when fusion of the occipitocervical region…
Summary of Key Points Spine constructs should be patient- and pathology-specific. Constructs require supplementation with adequate bone grafting to provide long-term stability. Cervical spine constructs may be applied in situations of clinical instability, for maintenance or correction of alignment, or…