Vascular Injuries
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Vertebral artery injury during cervical spine surgery is a rare but devastating complication. The vertebral artery is most susceptible to injury anteriorly at C7, laterally from…
Cervical Pedicle Screws
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Cervical pedicle screws offer a biomechanical advantage over other types of posterior cervical instrumentation, but at the expense of increased risk of iatrogenic neurovascular injury. Careful…
Wound Complications
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Wound complications, namely infection and dehiscence, are some of the most common adverse events following spinal surgical procedures. These complications can incur substantial morbidity and financial…
Posterior Cervical Endoscopic Laminoforaminotomy
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis The surgical treatment of unilateral cervical radiculopathy with a minimally invasive, microendoscopic technique is reviewed. Important surgical techniques, as well as indications and contraindications, are discussed….
Anterior Cervical Foraminotomy
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis This chapter describes in detail the surgical techniques and merits of transcorporeal anterior cervical microforaminotomy for cervical radiculopathy. This procedure involves a modification of the previous…
Biologics for Intervertebral Disk Regeneration and Repair
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Neck and low back pain is common, and intervertebral disk degeneration is thought to be one of the primary sources for pain generation. Although therapeutic techniques…
Tracheoesophageal Injuries
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis The anterior approach to the cervical spine has gained worldwide acceptance by spine surgeons to address a variety of pathologic conditions of the cervical spine. Injuries…
Dural Tear
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Dural tear is not uncommon in cervical spine surgery, and the incidence varies depending on the disorder addressed and the procedure performed. Because the potential complications…
Intervertebral Disk Transplantation
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis The current gold standard for treatment of disk degeneration is spinal fusion. Although effective in controlling pain, spinal fusion leads to restricted spinal motion and potentially…
Spinal Cord and Nerve Injuries in the Cervical Spine
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Nerve injuries and spinal cord injuries following cervical spine surgery can be devastating to the patient, family, and surgeon, but with adequate counseling preoperatively and appropriate…
