Thoracotomy Approach
(1) Marina Spine Center, Marina del Rey, CA, USA Use the standard thoracotomy approach for safe exposure of vertebral levels T2–L2. Proper rib selection depends on the pathology for…
Posterior Approach to the C1–C2 Joints
(1) Chefarzt Wirbelsäulen Chirurgie, Behandlungszentrum Bewegungsapparat, Universitätsspital, Basel, Switzerland The posterior exposure of the atlantoaxial joints may be indicated for insertion of transarticular screws at C1–C2 for bone grafting…
Anterior Retroperitoneal Flank Approach to L2–L5 of the Lumbar Spine
(1) Marina Spine Center, Marina del Rey, CA, USA 1. Place the patient in the left lateral decubitus position. The radiopaque “bean-bag” for positioning allows adequate intraoperative X-ray visualization….
Balloon-Assisted Endoscopic Retroperitoneal Gasless (BERG) Approach to the Lumbar Spine
, John A. Ameriks2, Frank T. Jordan3 and James M. Giuffre4 (1) Center for Diseases and Surgery of the Spine, Las Vegas, NV, USA (2) Nevada Surgical Group, Las Vegas, NV, USA (3) North Vista Hospital,…
Endoscopic Foraminal Approach to the Lumbar Spine
Fig. 52.1 (a) Illustration of spine at L5–S1, right-sided view with the patient in the prone position. Kambin’s triangular working zone is the site of surgical access for posterolateral endoscopic…
Transsternal Approach to the Cervicothoracic Junction
, Alfred A. Steinberger1 and Frank Moore1 (1) Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA The cervicothoracic junction represents one of the more complex areas of the spine because of the proximity…
Approach to the Posterior Aspect of C1–C2
(1) Marina Spine Center, Marina del Rey, CA, USA 1. Position the patient’s head in the self-retaining neurosurgical head fixation device that is attached to the table. Attach the…
Lumbar Laminotomy, Foraminotomy, Root Decompression, and Discectomy in the Lateral Position
(1) Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA The major objective in surgery of herniated lumbar discs is decompression of…
Transperitoneal Midline Approach to L4–S1
(1) Marina Spine Center, Marina del Rey, CA, USA 1. Position the patient supine over the flexion crease in the table and hyperextend the lumbar spine for greater exposure….
Bilateral Paraspinous Lumbosacral Approach
and Robert G. WatkinsIV1 (1) Marina Spine Center, Marina del Rey, CA, USA The most commonly used approaches to this area are the direct paraspinous muscle-splitting incision and the more lateral…
