LATERAL EXPOSURE OF THE CERVICOTHORACIC SPINE FOR ANTERIOR DECOMPRESSION AND OSTEOSYNTHESIS

LATERAL EXPOSURE of the cervicothoracic spine by an approach giving access to the anterolateral aspect of the vertebral bodies between C3-T10 is described. The approach of that region is obtained by the association of a cervicotomy and a standard thoracotomy with a costal flap situated at the place of the scapula. This approach was used for one patient with tumor invasion in the anterior part of the spinal canal on T1-T3; it allowed extensive resection of the three successive metastatic vertebral bodies and permitted stabilization of the spine.