104 - Cervical Spine and Cervicothoracic Junction—Posterior

Abstract

Knowledge of the surface anatomy of the neck is essential when planning cervical spine surgery. Pathology affecting the subaxial spine and cervicothoracic junction is commonly addressed from a posterior approach. The components of the subaxial vertebrae include the body, upper and lower articular processes, pedicles, lamina, and spinous process. The cervicothoracic junction acts as transition between the mobile cervical spine, which is paramount in providing flexion and extension, and the rigid thoracic vertebrae and cage. Pathology affecting the cervical spine and the cervicothoracic junction includes degenerative myelopathy, trauma, neoplasm, and infectious processes. When traumatic injury occurs in the subaxial spine and at the cervicothoracic junction, spinal stabilization is often required to correct and prevent kyphotic deformity. Commonly employed surgical approaches to the posterior cervical and thoracic spine include, but are not limited to, laminectomy, laminotomy, laminoplasty, costotransversectomy, lateral extracavitary, and transpedicular approaches.