ABSTRACT
Relative contraindications include active infection or concurrent chemotherapy or radiation, which might place the patient at significant risk for wound complications postoperatively. Although patients may initially report improvement in their neurologic symptoms after a cervical decompressive laminectomy, over time their clinical results may deteriorate if postlaminectomy kyphosis develops. The available surgical options vary depending on the severity of the patient's deformity and clinical symptoms. Patients with a fixed but not fused deformity most often are considered for combined anterioposterior correction, consisting of anterior releases, interbody support, and posterior segmental fixation for supplemental stability. Careful positioning of the cervical deformity patient is mandatory based on the pattern of cord compression present on imaging. Patients should be adequately counseled about the substantial risk of morbidity prior to undergoing correction of cervical deformities. Multimodal neuromonitoring should be employed and closely monitored after positioning of the patient and during any corrective maneuvers.
