Figure 1

Intraoperative decompression and restoration of the cervical curvature. (A) One screw was perpendicular to the C5 vertebra. Screws for C3 and C7 vertebrae were inclined cephalad and caudally as required. (B) C4 and C6 corpectomy (relatively small visual fields). (C) After corpectomy, a distraction device was placed and distracted properly. Anterior vertebral bodies were correspondingly distracted. The cervical curvature was restored. With enlargement of the surgical visual fields, articles causing compression can be located posterior to the vertebrae and removed under direct vision. (D) Removal of articles causing compression, bone grafting, and proper placement of an already bent anterior cervical plate. C3 and C7 screws were placed first. (E) The C5 screw was placed last. The spine was lifted and repositioned to further restore the cervical curvature.