title: Injuries to the subaxial cervical spine: posterior approach options.
abstract: In patients with cervical instability as the primary injury, either ligamentous or bony, a posterior approach and stabilization is the most likely definitive treatment. The goals should be to obtain and maintain satisfactory alignment, promote fusion, and allow safe and early mobilization. Many techniques that differ in safety, ease of application, cost, biomechanical strength, and postoperative requirements of immobilization are available. This article reviews different methods of posterior surgical interventions in subaxial cervical spine injuries and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each.
authors.affiliation: Metrohealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-1998, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D001863:Bone Screws; D001864:Bone Wires; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000601:surgery