Dr Adriaan Liebenberg My Spine Cervical | Page 122

Images used with permission from Medtronic
Figure 18.1
These drawings demonstrate a fusion between the thoracic and cervical
spine. There are many different variations of posterior (from behind) cervical
fusions and different types of instrumentation. In all cases the instrumentation
is attached to the vertebrae with screws or hooks.
The top drawing demonstrates the position in which the patient is placed to
allow neck flexion. This way, the back of the neck is easily accessed. Specific
bony landmarks are then identified and screws inserted as demonstrated in
the bottom two drawings.
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