EVALUATION OF USEFULNESS OF LATERAL RETROPHARYNGEAL APPROACH TO C2, C3 CERVICAL SPINE

Abstract : Surgical approaches to the C23 disc level are challenging because of its location behind the mandible and the vital neurovascular structures overlying the area. Despite the many techniques described in the literature, there is still a lack of consensus concerning the optimum approach to the C23 disc level. The purpose of the prospective study is to evaluate the usefulness of lateral retropharyngeal approach. We have done anterior stabilisation of four cases of c2 pedicle fracture through lateral retropharyngeal approach and there was no complication reported in our study. The purpose of this article is to present the anatomy of the lateral retropharyngeal approach as a guide to increase the safety of the approach to this area. For this purpose, stepwise dissection of this approach and a clinical case illustrating the usefulness of the surgical technique in this region are presented.