Cervical deformity: Pre-operative evaluation and surgical treatment options

Cervical deformity is a major cause of cervical myelopathy and often leads to poor health-related quality-of-life outcomes. These deformities are complex in nature and require a thorough understanding of the radiographic parameters used to measure the degree of malalignment in order to develop an appropriate pre-operative plan. The magnitude and rigidity of the deformity often dictates whether an anterior, posterior, or combined approach is required to achieve the goals of surgery, which are to decompress the neural elements, as well as reestablish regional and global spinal alignment.