vertebral removal with exposed spinal cord

STUDY DESIGN: This study analyzed anatomic parameters between the midpoint of cervical vertebral lateral masses as seen on the superficial, posterior aspect of the mass and cervical nerve roots. Posterior cervical dissection was performed, with the midpoint of the lateral masses kept intact and the nerve roots exposed. OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively determine the location of the cervical nerve roots and the transverse foramina, indicating vertebral artery placement relative to the posterior aspect of the cervical spine...

Oblique transcorporeal drilling is a new surgical technique in which the transverse foramina with the vertebral artery and lateral aspects of the bodies of the cervical vertebrae are exposed; it allows to drill out obliquely from the antero-lateral to the opposite postero-lateral corner, half of one or several cervical vertebral bodies. The technique is shortly described and its indications are discussed. It can mainly be applied to release osteophytic compression and to remove anteriorly developed tumors. The advantages are to work in a wide field with all important structures kept medially and protected and to keep a sufficient portion of the vertebral bodies to preserve the spine stability...

The thoracic spine may be approached by different ways: posterior, posterolateral, anterolateral and anteriorly, with associated removal of diverse osseous structures as facet joints, costal processes, pedicles and ribs, subsequently imposing the use of diverse fusion procedures in some cases. The extreme lateral approach to the thoracic disc space produces minimum disruption of the normal spinal musculoskeletal anatomy, avoids retraction of the spinal cord and preserves the intercostal neurovascular bundle and the segmental radicular arteries...

A surgical approach to the anterior lower brainstem and upper cervical spinal cord consists of a fashion of unilateral suboccipital scalp flap, exposure and resection of the suboccipital bone and hemilamina of C1, removal of occipital condyle and the lateral mass of C1 (occasionally). The satisfaction of exposing the anterolateral portion of lower brainstem and upper cervical spinal cord can be obtained with minimal retraction of the nervous tissue. 13 patients, 9 with tumors, 2 with giant vertebral aneurysms, 2 with craniocervical malformations, underwent this operative procedure with no surgical mortality and morbidity which related to the approach...

A case of spinal dumbbell shaped melanotic schwannoma was reported. A 58-year-old housewife had a 3-months history of progressive gait disturbance. She also complained of mild backache and numbness in both legs. Her family history was not remarkable. When examined on admission, October 10, 1982, mild weakness of both legs with spasticity and sensory impairment below the level of T10 dermatome without sacral sparing were evident. Her deep tendon reflexes were hyperactive on both sides and plantar responses were extensor bilaterally...

Benign in more than 90% cases, dumbbell neurogenic tumors are rare. It was 3 thoracic schwannome and 1 thoracic ganglioneuroma and 1 lumbar schwannoma are reported. In 2 cases complete removal was performed by thoracotomy, in another case thoracic removal was incomplete with leateag of spinal fluid, laminectomy was necessary 3 months later and in a third case laminectomy was performed first because of paraplagia and thoracotomy one month later. In lumbar case a two ways procedure in 3 weetes space permitted complete removal, a monoparesia and sphincters troubles, regressive spontaneously in 5 months, complicated first performed laminectomy...

Lesions ventral to the neuraxis at the craniocervical junction can pose a significant management problem because of their strategic location. Conventional posterolateral approaches sometimes may not permit adequate visualization of the entire base of the tumor without significant manipulation of the brain stem and spinal cord. The anterior transoral and extrapharyngeal approaches are alternate ways of exposing this region without neural retraction. However, these approaches do not provide adequate exposure of the lateral margins of the tumour, there is no control of the vertebral arteries and cranial nerves and the tumor--brain stem interface is not seen till the end of the operation...

Severe injuries to the upper cervical region can be the cause of death. Standard autopsy techniques are inadequate for examination of this area. Therefore a technique has been developed that gives excellent visualization and allows removal of the brain and spinal cord in one piece. With the body prone a midline incision is made from the top of the head to the sacrum. The skull is sawed in a circle from one side of the foramen magnum around the top of the skull to the other side of the foramen magnum. The lamina of the neural arches of the vertebral column are sawed...