Pseudarthrosis of the Cervical Spine

Pseudarthrosis of the cervical spine represents a common and challenging problem for spine surgeons. Rates vary greatly from as low as 0%–20% to>60% and depend heavily on patient factors, approach, and number of levels. While some patients remain asymptomatic from pseudarthrosis, many require revision surgery due to instability, continued neck pain, or radiculopathy/myelopathy. We aimed to provide a practical, narrative review of cervical pseudarthrosis to address the following areas: (1) definitions, (2) incidence, (3) risk factors, (4) presentation and workup, (5) treatment decision-making, and (6) postoperative care. It is our hope the current review provides a concise summary for how to diagnose and treat challenging cervical nonunions.

Source: Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques - March 30, 2022 Category: Surgery Tags: Narrative Review Source Type: research