15.3. Planning
@ProfFishchenkoFor a right-handed surgeon, working from the patient’s left side is usually more convenient.
Planning a left-sided approach to C5–C6
Midline — solid red.
C5–C6 level — solid blue.
Incision line — dashed red.
Planning of the viewing and working portals — dashed blue.
Viewing portal — red circle.
Working portal — blue circle.
When planning the approach to the required level, we mark reference lines on the skin:
• Midline — solid red.
• A parallel line — dashed red, 1–1.5 cm lateral.
• A perpendicular line — solid blue, at the target intervertebral level.
• A line parallel to the latter — dashed blue, 1–1.5 cm away.
We plan the skin incisions at the intersections of the lines.
References
1. Zhu C, et al. Unilateral biportal endoscopic laminectomy for treating cervical stenosis: a technical note and preliminary results. Medicina. 2023;59(2):305.
2. Kang MS, et al. Percutaneous full-endoscopic versus biportal endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy for unilateral cervical foraminal disc disease. Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2022;14(4):539–547.