Complications of the anterior retropharyngeal approach in cervical spine surgery: a technique and outcomes review.
The retropharyngeal approach is used to avoid the risks and limitations of transmucosal surgery. The standard Smith-Robinson approach does not allow complete exposure of the C3 body/disk in patients requiring instrumentation of C3 or in patients with a short, thick neck. The anterior retropharyngeal approach provides additional exposure to the entire cervical spine in these patients. Our results in 14 cases show the anterior retropharyngeal approach to the upper and lower cervical spine to be an effective surgical technique in cases of upper cervical spine abnormalities and for multilevel abnormalities in patients with a short, thick neck. Although complications occurred as a result of the procedure, no permanent disorders were encountered. Adequate exposure to the entire cervical spine can be achieved without the high incidence of infection associated with the transoral approach.
Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics Foundation for Research, Chattanooga, TN, USA.
S D
SD
Hodges
S C
SC
Humphreys
T W
TW
Brown
J C
JC
Eck
L A
LA
Covington
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome