ABSTRACT
Traditional open surgical approaches to the spine require disruption of muscular and ligamentous components in order to expose bony structures. Spinal stability supplied by these components is therefore compromised as part of the surgical exposure. This chapter provides a description of anatomical structures and potential complications associated with various minimally invasive approaches to the spine. The anterior cervical foraminotomy exposure was designed to negate the need for bone fusion and immobilization, while maintaining spinal stability following anatomical decompression of the spinal cord. Posterior cervical approaches are often employed to address the site of neurological compression while avoiding risk of injury to the anterior neck structures, including the trachea, esophagus, thyroid, thymus, carotid arteries, jugular veins, vagus nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, superior laryngeal nerve, ansa cervicalis, and thoracic duct. Thoracoscopic exposures have been used extensively in thoracic surgery for a variety of pathologies that affect the chest and mediastinum.
