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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Biologics in cervical spine surgery include demineralized bone matrix (DBM), ceramics, allografts containing mesenchymal stem cells, and growth factors. Each of these biologics has different characteristics…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Interspinous wiring techniques were developed as a means of stabilizing traumatic cervical injuries. Although increasingly replaced by newer technologies, such as lateral mass screws and pedicle…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Most lesions in the cervical spine are metastatic; primary bone tumors are rare. The goals of treatment vary from palliation to cure. It is vital to…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is instrumental in evaluation of symptomatic cervical spine degeneration and guidance of surgical treatment. In the setting of trauma, MRI can help…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Partial obstruction of the subarachnoid space can be identified as the underlying cause of syringomyelia in almost all patients: tonsillar descent causes this in Chiari malformation–related…
