Summary of Key Points • Many of the complications associated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) can be avoided by performing properly indicated surgery, employing careful preoperative planning, and…
Summary of Key Points • The endoscopic transnasal approaches provides a direct surgical trajectory to anteriorly located lesions at the craniocervical junction. • Clinical series demonstrate low rates of postoperative…
Summary of Key Points • Corpectomy is favored over multilevel anterior discectomy in cases of long segment ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, trauma causing disruption of the vertebral body,…
Summary of Key Points • Posterior cervical instrumentation is useful in stabilizing subaxial cervical spine instability, which may be due to degeneration, trauma, iatrogenic, neoplasia, and infection. • Instrumentation options…
Summary of Key Points • The ventral approach is appropriate for a discectomy, corpectomy, fusion, and instrumentation. • The ventrolateral approach is also appropriate for a decompression of the vertebral…
Summary of Key Points • Axial low back pain is a common clinical problem of major socioeconomic importance. • The relationship between the pathophysiology and development of axial low back…
Summary of Key Points • Spine constructs should be patient and pathology specific. • Most constructs require supplementation with adequate bone grafting to provide long-term stability. • Cervical spine constructs…
Summary of Key Points • Cervical spondylosis with resultant compression of nerve root (radiculopathy) or spinal cord (myelopathy) is a common problem, with the latter being the most common cause…
Summary of Key Points • Cervical spine trauma, malignancy, ankylosing spondylitis, kyphotic deformity, and cervical spondylotic myelopathy are all pathologies for which a combined surgical approach may be biomechanically advantageous….
Summary of Key Points • Stress shielding refers to implant-induced reduction of bone healing. • Wolff’s law states that bone heals optimally under compressive forces. • Rigid plates may stress-shield…
