[Malformative and degenerative diseases of the cervical spine: preoperative evaluation]

Malformative or degenerative abnormalities of the cranio-cervical joint which are the most frequently encountered in neurosurgery concern the occipital bone, the atlantoaxial joint and the surrounding nervous or vascular structures. These pathologies may have an acquired or congenital origin. In the last eventuality, they are frequently associated with other malformative disorders involving the vertebral column, the thorax, the kidneys or the heart. The clinical picture is various and many systems can be affected. Therefore, preoperative assessment of patients implies a multifactorial evaluation. The anesthesiologist should refer to the following check list: examination of the neck and cervical spine, neurological status, evaluation of associated diseases, pulmonary and cardiac function tests, airways permeability and conditions of endotracheal intubation.