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Surgical treatment of cervical kyphosis

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Abstract

Cervical kyphosis is an uncommon but potentially debilitating and challenging condition. We reviewed the etiology, presentation, clinical and radiological evaluation, and treatment of cervical kyphosis. Based on the current controversy as to the ideal mode of surgical management, we paid particular attention to the available surgical strategies. There are three approaches for cervical kyphosis: the anterior, posterior or combined procedures. The principal indication for the posterior strategy is a flexible kyphosis or kyphosis caused by ankylosing spondylitis. The main point of debate is between the choice of the anterior or the combined strategy. The two strategies were compared with regard to clinical outcome, correction of deformity, rate of fusion, complications, revision surgery, and mortality. The combined strategy appears to result in a greater degree of correction than the anterior-alone strategy, and it is more likely to improve the cervical alignment to achieve a lordosis. However, the procedure carries a higher rate of postoperative neurological deterioration, complications, revision surgery, and mortality. Although the anterior-alone strategy achieves a smaller reduction of cervical kyphosis, it has a lower rate of postoperative neurological deterioration, complications, revision surgery, and mortality. We recommend that the surgical treatment of cervical kyphosis should be planned on an individual basis. A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled study would be necessary to determine the ideal mode of treatment for complex cervical kyphosis.

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Abbreviations

VB:

Vertebral body

VBs:

Vertebral bodies

PLK:

Postlaminectomy kyphosis

CK:

Cervical kyphosis

CKD:

Cervical kyphotic deformity

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No funds were received in support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Spinal Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Road 139#, Changsha, 410011, Hunan Province, China

    Ke Han, Chang Lu, Jing Li, Guang-Zhong Xiong, Bing Wang, Guo-Hua Lv & You-Wen Deng

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  1. Ke Han
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  2. Chang Lu
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  3. Jing Li
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Correspondence to Jing Li.

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Han, K., Lu, C., Li, J. et al. Surgical treatment of cervical kyphosis. Eur Spine J 20, 523–536 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-010-1602-8

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