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Anterior Cervical Foraminotomy

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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

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The direct removal of compressive pathology while preserving the segmental motion has been a challenge in the surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy. A classic anterior cervical approach for simple disc herniation or spondylotic stenosis involves surgical decompression followed by fusion using bone graft, often with metal implant. Although this procedure of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion can provide direct elimination of the compressive pathology, it also results in the loss of motion segments by spinal fusion. In attempts to maintain the segmental motion, disc arthroplasty has been recently introduced to the anterior approach. A classic posterior approach usually involves cervical laminectomy or laminoplasty, sometimes accompanied by foraminotomy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mi-Ja Jho and Robin Coret for their assistance with the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 02114, Boston, MA, USA

    David H. Jho

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Hae-Dong Jho MD, PhD (Professor & Chairman)

Authors
  1. David H. Jho
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  2. Hae-Dong Jho MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David H. Jho .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Center, University of California at San Diego, West Arbor Drive 200, San Diego, 92103-8893, U.S.A.

    Burak Ozgur

  2. Euclid Avenue 9500, Cleveland, 44195, U.S.A.

    Edward Benzel

  3. Dept. Orthopedics, University of California, San Diego, Regents Park Row 4150, La Jolla, 92037, U.S.A.

    Steven Garfin

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Jho, D.H., Jho, HD. (2009). Anterior Cervical Foraminotomy. In: Ozgur, B., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds) Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89831-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89831-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-89830-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-89831-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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