A 35year old patient presented with neck pain and quadriparesis following fall from a bike. His MRI and CT scan showed fracture of C5 vertebral body with cord injury. He underwent anterior approach, c5 median corpectomy to decompress the spinal cord followed by fusion with titanium cage filled with bone autograft and titanium plates and screws. Patient tolerated the procedure well.
Surgery in such patient is required primarily for 2 reasons: to decompress the spinal cord and to stabilise the spine.
Titanium implants are preferred and used in major centres due to their MRI compatible status.
Aids used: C-arm, Neurosurgical drill