High cervical (C2-C3) spondylogenetic myelopathy treated by transoral approach. Case report

It is reported a case that required transoral exposure of C2-C3 intervertebral space in order to remove a huge osteophyte spur projecting into the spinal canal and producing a severe myelopathy. This unusual surgical route was used because the relevant interspace was inaccessible via the standard anterior approach due to an extremely short neck. The case is reported both because of its rarity and to confirm that the transoral approach is simple, safe and resolvent and that its range of indication is steadily increasing to cover a broad spectrum of disease entities.