Cervical spine surgery

Most surgery is designed to relieve compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots. Reduction in the bore of the vertebral spinal or root canals (spinal stenosis) can occur in many conditions, and some patients have congenitally narrow canals. Osteophytic projections at the intervertebral joints (cervical spondylosis) are the commonest problem. Tumours, infection, trauma, disc protrusions, and rheumatoid arthritis are less common causes of canal stenosis. In some of these conditions (notably trauma, infection, tumours, and rheumatoid), stenosis can also be caused by vertebral instability causing or threatening a reduction in volume of the spinal or root canals (Figs. 1 and 2).