Cervical deformity arising from upper thoracic malalignment

Abstract

This study aims to describe the surgical management of cervical deformity arising from outside the cervical spine because of upper thoracic malalignment, using pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO). Cervical spine deformity is a complex topic and it can be generally divid-ed into 2 categories, the first category is when the primary deformity is inside the cervical spine and the treatment will focus on the cervical spine itself, whereas the second category is when the primary deformity is outside the cervical spine usually in the adjacent upper thoracic area, the cervical deformity is a compensation for the adjacent malalignment, and thus in this situation, the management will occur in the upper thoracic area. Description of a single surgeon’s technique for performing PSO to treat rigid upper thoracic deformity. PSO in the upper thoracic spine is a safe and effective procedure and can result in satisfying clinical and radiological outcome with indirect correction of the compensatory cervical de-formity. Cervical deformity arising from upper thoracic malalignment should be dealt with by treating the problem at its origin outside the cervical spine by performing a PSO in the upper thoracic spine.