Acknowledgment The authors and editors wish to thank Dr. Edward H. Oldfield and Dr. John Heiss for their contributions to this chapter in the previous edition. Definition and History In 1891, Hans Chiari described three types of cerebellar malformations that…
Craniovertebral junction abnormalities can be developmental, genetic, or acquired in origin. , To effectively treat these disorders when they are symptomatic, the clinician must have a knowledge of the embryology and the functional anatomy of the area. A myriad of…
Penetrating spinal injuries (PSIs) encompass a range of traumatic etiologies, from nonmissile injuries such as knife wounds to high-velocity missile injuries such as rifle shots. Historically, most literature on the treatment of PSIs came from the battle fields. However, with…
The sacrum is integral to the biomechanical and neuroprotective roles of the spinal column and pelvic ring. Although injuries to the sacrum have historically been relatively overlooked within the realm of spine trauma, sacral fractures may result in deformity, chronic…
Background The thoracic and lumbar regions are the most common anatomic sites for vertebral fractures. The thoracolumbar area is especially susceptible to trauma, accounting for 52% of all thoracic and lumbar fractures. The most common fracture types in the thoracolumbar…
The cervical spine is the most mobile portion of the spinal column, and its stabilization has unique features. Cervical spine stabilization may be performed using anterior, posterior, or combined techniques. Fusions by anterior approaches have been widely used in cervical…
The atlantoaxial junction is a delicate anatomic complex that involves an intricate relationship between the atlas and the axis to allow flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending. The interrelation of osseous, ligamentous, neural elements, and articulations make the atlantoaxial junction…
Introduction Multiple anterior approaches to the craniocervical junction have been described to allow exposure to the midline and lateral aspects of both the cranial base and upper cervical spine. The transoral-transpharyngeal approach, a technique well known to many spine surgeons,…
Epidemiology The most recent demographic update provided by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center in 2016 estimates that there are approximately 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) every year. Motor vehicle accidents are the cause of nearly…
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive, percutaneous procedures in which a fast-setting polymer is injected into a pathologic vertebral body with the goal of relieving pain or disability. These treatments have been applied to painful osteoporotic compression fractures, painful neoplasms,…