1. Anterior decompression for cervicothoracic pathology: A study of 14 patients.
- Author
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Prabhakar MM and Thakker T
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Bone Transplantation, Cervical Vertebrae injuries, Child, Epidural Abscess diagnostic imaging, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hemangioma diagnostic imaging, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neurologic Examination, Postoperative Complications diagnostic imaging, Spinal Cord Compression diagnostic imaging, Spinal Neoplasms diagnostic imaging, Thoracic Vertebrae injuries, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Tuberculosis, Spinal diagnostic imaging, Cervical Vertebrae surgery, Decompression, Surgical, Epidural Abscess surgery, Hemangioma surgery, Spinal Cord Compression surgery, Spinal Fusion, Spinal Injuries surgery, Spinal Neoplasms surgery, Thoracic Vertebrae surgery, Tuberculosis, Spinal surgery
- Abstract
Introduction: Various anterior approaches to the cervicothoracic junction have been described. This study reports our experience with 14 patients who had cervical anterior approaches to the cervicothoracic junction (C6-T2). This technique was evaluated with regard to the extent of exposure, ease of technique, and postoperative morbidity. We have chosen the low cervical approach to obtain exposure up to T2. For T3-T4 pathology, we use the transthoracic, periscapular approach. We do not practice bone-splitting approaches because of the morbidity associated with these approaches., Methods: Fourteen patients with C6-T2 pathology who required anterior decompression and fusion were studied for a period of 2 years. In all cases, the low cervical anterior approach was used., Results: This approach is simple, requires less operative time, and provides excellent exposure up to the level of T2. There was no long-term morbidity attributed to the approach and procedure., Conclusion: The low cervical anterior approach is an excellent approach that provides adequate exposure for spinal pathology to T2 that requires anterior decompression and fusion.
- Published
- 2006
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