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Information for Patients

From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Cervical Fracture

Neck Pain

Las Fracturas (Fractures)

Anterior Approaches to the Cervical and Cervicothoracic Spine

by Raj D. Rao, MD; Vaibhav Bagaria, MD;

This topic reviews the anterior approach to the cervical spine and the anterior approach to the cervicothoracic spine.

The anterior approach to the cervical spine is used to expose the spinal column from C2 to T1 in thin individuals; for anterior cervical diskectomy/corpectomy; for artificial disk replacement; for debridement of vertebral osteomyelitis or diskitis; for anterior vertebral body tumor excision; and for decompression and stabilization in cervical spine trauma.

The anterior approach to the cervicothoracic spine is used for anterior exposure of the vertebral bodies from C7 through T4; for débridement of vertebral osteomyelitis or diskitis; for anterior vertebral body tumor excision; and for decompression with fusion for upper thoracic fractures.

Keywords: indications, broken neck, neck fracture, anterior cervical diskectomy, anterior cervical corpectomy, artificial disk replacement, vertebral osteomyelitis, vertebral diskitis, anterior vertebral body tumor excision, decompression and stabilization, cervical spine trauma, surgical techniques, surgical exposures, complications, anatomy

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