Cervical Interbody Strut Techniques
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,…
Dorsal Subaxial Cervical Instrumentation Techniques
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…
Ventral and Ventrolateral Subaxial Decompression
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…
Indications for Spine Fusion for Axial Pain
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…
Cervical Spine Construct Design
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…
Cervical Laminectomy and Laminoforaminotomy
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…
Combined Ventral-Dorsal Surgery
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….
Cervical Spine Fusion Using Dynamic Ventral Cervical Plating
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…
Spinal Implant Attributes: Distraction, Compression, and Three-Point Bending
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…
High Cervical and Occipitocervical Plate, Rod, Wire, and Bone Techniques
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…
