Management Considerations for Cervical Corpectomy: Updated Indications and Future Directions.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Disorders

Background:

• Lower back and neck pain are leading causes of global disability, increasing over 25 years.
• Cervical neck pain is often a symptom of cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD).
• Aging populations and chronic diseases exacerbate the burden of spinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathophysiology of cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD).
• To overview the evolution and current state of the anterior surgical approach for cervical corpectomy.
• To discuss updated indications, surgical techniques, patient outcomes, and future directions in cervical corpectomy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) and cervical corpectomy.
• Analysis of the pathophysiological mechanisms of DDD.
• Examination of the historical development and modern application of the anterior approach in spinal surgery.

Main Results:

• Cervical corpectomy, utilizing an anterior approach, is a traditional treatment for multilevel DDD unresponsive to conservative care.
• The review synthesizes current knowledge on DDD, anterior surgical techniques, and patient outcomes.
• Emerging techniques like "skip corpectomy" and distractable mesh cages represent future advancements.

Conclusions:

• Cervical corpectomy remains a key intervention for managing debilitating cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD).
• Continuous innovation in surgical techniques and instrumentation is improving patient outcomes.
• Future research should focus on the efficacy and safety of novel approaches like "skip corpectomy".