Anterior approach to the cervical spine.

The anterior approach to surgical treatment of disorders of the cervical spine is described, and the technique and advantages are outlined. A series of 66 patients who underwent 75 procedures is reported. The follow-up period ranged from one to five years. Good to excellent results were obtained with 91% of the operations for disc disease, and good results in all cases of fracture-dislocation. Adequate relief of pain was obtained with anterolateral cordotomy in two patients with malignant disease. Only minor complications were encountered; these were easily corrected or cleared up spontaneously. This approach is recommended in preference to the posterior approach for disc disease and fracture-dislocations of the cervical spine.