[Spinal surgery in elderly patients]

Surgery of the degenerated cervical and lumbar spine in the elderly is often a very difficult challenge for the spine surgeon. General health, sociofamilial and mental condition the entire postoperative milieu of the patients as well as the surgical techniques and postoperative management are to be accurately evaluated and planned. The data on aging of populations in the near future highlights the importance of this aspect of geriatric medicine and surgery.