The cervicothoracic junction.

The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) represents a unique region in the spine because of its biomechanical properties. It is predisposed to various traumatic injuries, tumor, and iatrogenic instability. It is also a difficult region to access anteriorly because of the vital structures ventral to the CTJ. The development of new surgical techniques and new instrumentation has allowed better access and fixation to the CTJ.

[1]  R. Yeasting,et al.  Morphometric Evaluation of the Cervico‐Thoracic Junction: Practical Considerations for Posterior Fixation of the Spine , 1994, Spine.

[2]  Kshitij Chaudhary,et al.  Anterior Instrumentation of the Cervicothoracic Vertebrae: Approach Based on Clinical and Radiologic Criteria , 2006, Spine.

[3]  H. Bohlman,et al.  Cervicothoracic extension osteotomy for chin-on-chest deformity in ankylosing spondylitis. , 2005, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[4]  G. Rosen,et al.  An anterior surgical approach to the upper thoracic vertebrae. , 1984, Journal of neurosurgery.

[5]  Daniel H. Kim,et al.  Surgical treatment of tumors involving the cervicothoracic junction. , 2003, Neurosurgical focus.

[6]  S. Yerby,et al.  Posterior Stabilization at the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Biomechanical Study , 2002, Spine.

[7]  D. Young,et al.  Evaluation of cervicothoracic junction injury. , 1987, Annals of emergency medicine.

[8]  A. Saifuddin,et al.  Fractures and Dislocations of the Cervicothoracic Junction , 2005, Journal of spinal disorders & techniques.

[9]  G. Sapkas,et al.  Operative treatment of unstable injuries of the cervicothoracic junction , 1999, European Spine Journal.

[10]  R. Wharen,et al.  Lateral mass screw-rod fixation of the cervical spine: a prospective clinical series with 1-year follow-up. , 2003, The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society.

[11]  E. Benzel,et al.  Regional instability following cervicothoracic junction surgery. , 2006, Journal of neurosurgery. Spine.

[12]  P. Mummaneni,et al.  Cervical osteotomy for the correction of chin-on-chest deformity in ankylosing spondylitis. Technical note. , 2003, Neurosurgical focus.

[13]  B. Jeanneret Posterior rod system of the cervical spine: a new implant allowing optimal screw insertion , 2004, European Spine Journal.

[14]  M. W. Fox,et al.  Neurological complications of ankylosing spondylitis. , 1993, Journal of neurosurgery.

[15]  Jens R. Chapman,et al.  Posterior instrumentation of the unstable cervicothoracic spine. , 1996, Journal of neurosurgery.

[16]  W. Hutton,et al.  A Comparison of Pedicle and Lateral Mass Screw Construct Stiffnesses at the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Biomechanical Study , 2005, Spine.

[17]  H. A. Peterson,et al.  Incidence of spinal column deformity after multilevel laminectomy in children and adults. , 1982, Journal of neurosurgery.

[18]  C. Mazel,et al.  Posterior Cervicothoracic Instrumentation in Spine Tumors , 2004, Spine.

[19]  P. Korovessis,et al.  Posterior compact Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for occipitocervical, cervical and cervicothoracic fusion , 2001, European Spine Journal.

[20]  A. Ireland,et al.  Do supine oblique views provide better imaging of the cervicothoracic junction than swimmer's views? , 1998, Journal of accident & emergency medicine.

[21]  D. Evans Dislocations at the cervicothoracic junction. , 1983, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[22]  R. Betz,et al.  Principles and Practice of Spine Surgery , 2002, World Journal of Surgery.

[23]  L. Sekhon,et al.  Cervicothoracic Junction Arthroplasty after Previous Fusion Surgery for Adjacent Segment Degeneration: Case Report , 2005, Neurosurgery.

[24]  K. Cheung,et al.  Anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction by unilateral or bilateral manubriotomy. A report of five cases. , 2002, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[25]  D. Resnick Anterior cervicothoracic junction corpectomy and plate fixation without sternotomy. , 2002, Neurosurgical focus.

[26]  E. Benzel,et al.  Biomechanics of spinal deformity. , 2003, Neurosurgical focus.

[27]  M. Jomin,et al.  A transsternal biclavicular approach to the upper anterior thoracic spine. , 1986, Surgical neurology.

[28]  Nicholas H. Post,et al.  Unique Features of Herniated Discs at the Cervicothoracic Junction: Clinical Presentation, Imaging, Operative Management, and Outcome after Anterior Decompressive Operation in 10 Patients , 2006, Neurosurgery.

[29]  M. Richter,et al.  Posterior stabilisation of a malignant cervico-thoracic vertebral bone defect. , 2005, Acta orthopaedica Belgica.

[30]  H. An,et al.  Spinal Disorders at the Cervicothoracic Junction , 1994, Spine.

[31]  O. Koç,et al.  A perspective for the selection of surgical approaches in patients with upper thoracic and cervicothoracic junction instabilities. , 2006, Surgical neurology.

[32]  D. O’Rourke,et al.  Results and risk factors for anterior cervicothoracic junction surgery , 2001 .

[33]  S. Swisher,et al.  Transthoracic vertebrectomy for metastatic spinal tumors. , 1998, Journal of neurosurgery.

[34]  R. Birch,et al.  A surgical approach to the cervicothoracic spine. , 1990, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[35]  J. Nazzaro,et al.  "Trap door" exposure of the cervicothoracic junction. Technical note. , 1994, Journal of Neurosurgery.