"General surgical pearls" for the anterior exposure of vertebral fractures

Recently interest has been increasing in the anterior surgical approach for spinal cord decompression and bony stabilization of vertebral compression fractures. Our neurosurgical spine service routinely consults us to provide anterior operative exposure and wound closure for all levels of the thoracic and lumbar vertebral spine. Averaging about 30 exposures per year we have developed an excellent operative experience with these vertebral exposures. With no complete general surgery reference on anterior vertebral identified this summary of our "general surgical pearls" that we have learned and/or have developed should significantly aid other general and trauma surgeons who may be asked by their neurosurgical and/or orthopedic surgical colleagues for assistance with these operations.