ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the indications, work-up, and surgical technique of endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy. The main goal of minimally invasive procedures is to minimize surgical dissection and paraspinal muscle retraction to theoretically decrease blood loss, minimize postoperative pain, and lead to shorter hospital stays and faster return to full function. The diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy is rather specific with patients presenting with predominantly arm pain, weakness, and numbness. Posterior approaches to the cervical spine might be performed with the patient in a sitting or prone position. The sitting position has the advantage of minimizing blood loss as a result of collapse of epidural vessels; however, it also has a higher risk of air embolus than the prone position. Tubular access systems combined with endoscopic visualization similar to those used in the lumbar spine can be used for microendosopic laminoforaminotomy in the posterior cervical spine.
