Core Techniques of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

초록

Cervical radiculopathy may result from compression of the nerve root due to disc herniation or degenerative stenosis with osteophyte formation in the cervical intervertebral foramen. Surgical decompression is an effective treatment method when conservative methods fail to relieve pain or when significant weakness occurs in the upper extremity muscles supplied by the compressed nerve root. Cervical foraminotomy is a minimally invasive surgery performed anteriorly or posteriorly on the neck to relieve pressure on one or more spinal nerves. This foraminotomy involves carefully removing small portions of bones and joints and any soft tissue that could compress the spinal nerve roots. A prolapsed disc is also removed if necessary. In this chapter, we would like to explain the anterior cervical foraminotomy and posterior foraminotomy with an anatomical understanding of the surgical technique. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.