Surgical video of corpectomy and fusion

Abstract

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), earlier referred to as cervical spondylotic myelopathy, involves spinal cord dysfunction from compression in the neck. The prevalence of DCM is expected to rise with age, making the optimization of treatment strategies crucial. Pharmacological treatments, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, and corticosteroids, are commonly prescribed for symptomatic relief. The primary objective of surgery is to decompress the spinal cord, restore cervical alignment, and stabilize the spine. Corpectomy plays a pivotal role in cases of multilevel ventral compression, extensive ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, or when deformity correction is required. Corpectomy is technically demanding and associated with higher risks of graft subsidence. Corpectomy continues to be indispensable in the surgical management of cervical myelopathy. In the present video article, we present the case of a 32-year-old gentleman who presented with neck pain and progressive weakness in the extremities. His symptoms were resolved after cervical corpectomy and fusion.