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…

Summary of Key Points • In distraction, when applied away from the instantaneous axis of rotation (IAR), the resultant force develops a bending moment. When applied close or in line…

Summary of Key Points • The craniocervical junction includes the occiput, atlas, and axis. • Stability is provided by the cup-shaped configuration of the occiput and atlas, but it is…

Summary of Key Points • Cervical spondylotic myelopathy may be multilevel. • Three- and four-level cervical plated corpectomy has a high rate of failure, partially because there are only four…

Summary of Key Points • Retropleural thoracotomy provides the shortest, most direct, surgical approach to the ventral thoracic and thoracolumbar spine and spinal canal. • Avoidance of pleural entry reduces…

Summary of Key Points • Cantilever beam fixation, widely used in spinal instrumentation, is described as a beam that is rigidly fixed at one end and supports a load. •…