Evaluation and Treatment of Cervical Spine Deformity

Abstract

The cervical spine plays a pivotal role in activities of daily living by allowing a wide range of motion while supporting the cranium. Cervical spine deformity (CSD) can cause significant negative impact on the patient’s functional status and quality of life. Surgical correction of cervical spine deformity can be challenging due to the complexity of the regional neurovascular anatomy, which necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the cervical spine anatomy and biomechanics. Goals of cervical deformity surgery include decompression of neural elements, and restoration of cervical alignment, and achieving solid arthrodesis. Cervical spine deformity correction can involve various anterior and posterior surgical techniques. Careful surgical planning and meticulous surgical techniques are essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes in cervical deformity correction. In this chapter, we provide an in depth review of pre-operative evaluation, surgical planning, and treatment strategies for cervical spine deformity.