Anterior C5-6 Discectomy and Interbody Fusion - Medical Illustration, Human Anatomy Drawing
This stock medical exhibit depicts cervical disc injuries at C3-4 and C5-6 with an anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion procedure. The first illustration is a sagittal view of the cervical spine showing the pre-operative condition: central spondylosis at C3-4 and a disc herniation at C5-6 with compromise of the C5 nerve root. Also shown is a superior view of C5-6 clearly revealing the C5-6 disc herniations compressing the left lateral aspect of the spinal cord. There are four steps of the operative procedure illustrated, beginning with the incision to expose the cervical vertebrae. The next illustration shows the removal of the C5-6 intervertebral disc material. Then a drill is used to reduce the endplates and anterior edges of the vertebral bodies exposing subchondral bone. Finally a fibular bone graft is impacted into position between the vertebrae completing the fusion.