Dr Adriaan Liebenberg My Spine Cervical | Page 100

My Spine - Cervical
A C
B D
Figure 15.1 Anatomical position of a cervical foraminotomy
This is the anatomical position of the key hole that has to be drilled to allow
access to the nerve as it is leaving the spinal canal. A part of the top half of
the joint (A) and part of the bottom half of the joint (B) is drilled away along
with a bit of the top lamina (C) and the bottom lamina (D) (see the chapter
Anatomy of the Spine).
This is described as a left-sided C2/3 foraminotomy, because the nerve
between the second and third cervical vertebrae is being decompressed. The
third cervical nerve root leaves the spinal canal between these vertebrae. The
nerve runs directly below this area and the intervertebral disc is directly
below the nerve. The nerve root can be decompressed with this approach and
disc fragments can be removed.
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