Dorsal midline approach to the cervical spine
1. Skin incision
With the patient in sternal recumbency.
A 20 cm straight skin incision is centered over the fracture site.
Radiographic markers like staples are used to define the precise location of the skin incision.
2. Exposure
The nuchal ligament is approached by sharp and blunt dissection, split in the median plane and separated from the bone in the region of the dorsal process.
