Use of an Articulating Hinge to Facilitate Cervicothoracic Deformity Correction During Vertebral Column Resection

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of severe cervicothoracic kyphotic deformity may require the use of 3-column osteotomies such as the pedicle subtraction osteotomy and vertebral column resection (VCR), or VCR with anterior longitudinal ligament resection. Such procedures are extensive and are associated with high intra- and perioperative morbidity, in part, due to the need for risky reduction maneuvers. OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel technique utilizing a laterally placed articulating hinge to facilitate kyphotic deformity correction of the cervicothoracic spine. METHODS: A patient with severe chin-on-chest deformity of the cervicothoracic spine presented for evaluation and a 2-stage VCR with anterior longitudinal ligament resection was planned. To reduce the risk of intraoperative neurological injury and for increased control during reduction maneuvers, lateral instrumentation was placed through the chest wall resection above and below the level of VCR, which was adjoined with an articulating hinge rod apparatus. RESULTS: Satisfactory reduction of the kyphosis was achieved utilizing the hinge rod apparatus for controlled deformity correction. The patient remained neurologically intact following this procedure with improvement in their spinal alignment. CONCLUSION: We present a novel technique utilizing a lateral hinge rod apparatus for efficient, controlled correction of severe kyphotic deformity.