Anterior Only Surgery for Management of Traumatic Subaxial Cervical Spine Instability

Classic management of cervical spine sublaxation and dislocation is combined anterior and posterior approach. Unfortunately there are disadvantages for this approach like: increasing morbidity related to each approach, increasing surgical costs, increasing operative time as well as the risk of blood loss.

Anterior approach has the advantages of supine position, less surgical trauma and direct anterior decompression of neural elements. Disadvantages include less mechanical stability and postoperative dysphagia.