Endoscopic anterior approach to the upper cervical spine:An anatomical study / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish the feasibility of performing an endoscopic anterior approach for upper cervical spine in a clinical setting.Methods Application of this method on 13 Chinese cadavers was conducted to verify the practicability of this technique.Anatomic data were obtained by measuring the anterior cervical specimens,and anatomic observation was conducted in the neighboring structure through below the su- perior thyroid artery.Results The superior thyroid vascular-nerve plexus was neighbor to the puncture can- nula.But there has a quite large distance between the hypoglossal,the glossopharyngeal,the lingual artery, the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and the puncture cannula.There has enough space between the posterior wall of the pharynx and the prevertebral fascia to put the MDE canuula.Conclusion This ca- daver and clinical study demonstrates that an endoscopic anterior approach to the upper cervical spine is safe and feasible,and can be a valid alternative to the conventional transoral approach.