title: Lateral exposure of the cervicothoracic spine for anterior decompression and osteosynthesis.
abstract: A lateral exposure of the cervicothoracic spine by an approach giving access to the anterolateral aspect of the vertebral bodies between C3-T10 is described. The approach of that region is obtained by the association of a cervicotomy and a standard thoracotomy with a costal flap situated at the place of the scapula. This approach was used for one patient with tumor invasion in the anterior part of the spinal canal on T1-T3; it allowed extensive resection of the three successive metastatic vertebral bodies and permitted stabilization of the spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Henri Mondor, University Paris XII, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernigou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duparc
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods