•  Before the corpectomy is begun, the disk space above and below the vertebral body to be resected is clearly exposed.

•  The uncovertebral margin is the most reliable reference in determining the lateral extent of the vertebral body resection.

– A Penfield elevator may be used to palpate the transverse process to ensure that lateral dissection is sufficient.

The vertebral artery lies deeper than the plane of dissection (posterior middle third of the vertebral body).

•  A Leksell rongeur can be used to remove most of the vertebral body quickly.

•  A high-speed burr can be used to remove the remaining bone laterally and posteriorly until the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) is identified.

– In most cases, an adequate decompression can be accomplished while preserving the PLL, which can then serve to prevent overdistraction from the interposed graft.

The defect should be widened to the uncovertebral margin to ensure adequate thecal sac decompression.

Related posts:

Cervical Surgical Positioning Posterior Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion Posterior Cervical Laminaplasty with Instrumentation Minimally Invasive Thoracic Corpectomy Open Laminectomy and Diskectomy Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Placement

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join