Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Surgical decompression of the neural elements is of paramount importance in all spinal procedures, especially those of cervical myelopathy. Neural compression at the level of the disk space can be addressed by performing anterior cervical diskectomy…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) comprises a common procedure used to treat cervical radiculopathy and cervical myelopathy. Excellent results can be achieved through careful patient selection and operative technique, which allows for reliable decompressiosn of…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Partial obstruction of the subarachnoid space can be identified as the underlying cause of syringomyelia in almost all patients: tonsillar descent causes this in Chiari malformation–related syringomyelia, and arachnoid webs or scars are the most common…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease of unknown origin that is characterized by inflammation of the axial skeleton. It affects the cervical spine in many patients in the late stages of the disease. Cervical spine involvement…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory polyarthritis that often involves the joints of the upper and subaxial cervical spine. The common spinal manifestations include atlantoaxial subluxation, rheumatoid basilar invagination, and subaxial subluxation. Important Points Selection…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global health care challenge. The increased susceptibility to coinfection in the presence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and the emergence of drug-resistant strains have led to a higher burden of…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Infections of the cervical spine account for less than 10% of all spine infections, but they are the source of 27% of all neurologic deficits associated with an infectious process. The classification of cervical infections includes…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis The spine is the most common site of metastatic disease involving bone. The cervical spine is less often affected by metastatic disease, yet metastasis still occurs with a greater frequency per year than do primary bone…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Most lesions in the cervical spine are metastatic; primary bone tumors are rare. The goals of treatment vary from palliation to cure. It is vital to recognize primary tumors before an operation, to achieve the best…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Primary tumors of the spinal cord comprise 5% to 15% of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors. They can be divided into two main categories based on anatomic origin: intradural extramedullary or intramedullary spinal cord tumors.…