Anterior Retroperitoneal Approach to the Lumbar Spine
Overview Anterior lumbar spinal surgery has been performed in various forms for decades. Müller described an anterior approach to the lumbar spine as early as 1906, and the anterior approach…
Surgical Approaches to Lumbar Fractures
Overview Because of the biomechanical features of the region, the most common site of injury in the lower spine is the thoracolumbar junction. The thoracic spine is stabilized by the…
Posterolateral Approaches to the Cervicothoracic Junction: Transpedicular, Costotransversectomy, Lateral Extracavitary, and Parascapular Extrapleural Approaches
Overview The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ), from C7 to T4, presents a particularly challenging region for surgical approach secondary to the unique anatomy of the upper thoracic cage, the presence of…
Surgical Approaches to Thoracic Primary and Secondary Tumors
Overview The past four decades have witnessed major advances in spine surgery, and these pioneering developments have dramatically influenced the culture and attitudes surrounding surgical management of spine tumors. At…
Surgical Decompression and Stabilization Techniques in Thoracic Trauma
Overview More than 1 million acute spinal injuries occur in the United States every year, of which approximately 50,000 result in vertebral fractures, and less than 10,000 result in spinal…
Thoracic Microdiskectomy: Lateral and Posterolateral Approaches
Overview Thoracic disk herniations are heterogeneous with respect to presenting symptoms, anatomic relationship to the spinal cord, and intrinsic tissue characteristics. Accordingly, thoracic diskectomy exists along a continuum of surgical…
Anterior and Posterior Cervicothoracic Junction Stabilization Techniques
Overview The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) represents a unique feature of the spinal column with significant biomechanical, anatomic, and functional aspects because of the transition between the cervical and thoracic spine….
Anterolateral Transthoracic Approaches to the Thoracic Spine
Overview Anterior lesions of the thoracic spine can present a challenging clinical scenario. Unlike the cervical spine, at which anterior approaches are commonplace, the generally unfamiliar surrounding anatomy can make…
Anterior Approaches to the Cervicothoracic Junction
Overview The anterior approach to the cervicothoracic spine can be technically challenging and requires precise knowledge of cervicothoracic regional anatomy and careful preoperative planning. A standard low-cervical approach can often…
Surgical Anatomy and Biomechanics in the Cervicothoracic Junction and Thoracic Spine
Overview The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is the transition zone that connects the lower cervical spine to the proximal thoracic spine; it includes the lower brachial plexus, thoracic outlet, and superior…
