Tips and Tricks: Fixation Options in the Osteoporotic Cervical Spine.

Abstract

Narrative review. To outline current fixation strategies and adjunctive techniques used to optimize surgical outcomes in patients with osteoporosis undergoing cervical spine surgery. Osteoporosis, a common metabolic bone disorder characterized by low bone mineral density and high fracture risk, can impair the outcomes of cervical spine surgery. In patients with osteoporosis, durable fixation is challenging to achieve because of compromised bone quality and anatomic constraints. While lumbar spine fixation techniques have been extensively studied and adapted, the cervical spine presents unique obstacles that warrant consideration. A review of clinical series, biomechanical studies, and surgical techniques was conducted to summarize intraoperative strategies for cervical fixation in patients with osteoporosis. Optimization of screw fixation, creation of an ancillary load sharing column, cement augmentation, and perioperative management of osteoporosis can improve patient outcomes. A combination of intraoperative techniques and pharmacological treatment is critical in the management of patients with osteoporosis who are undergoing cervical spine fixation.