Harvesting the intact cadaveric cervical spine (CO-Th1)

Study Design. Technical report on harvesting method for human cadaveric cer vical spine. Objectives. Description of a new method for harvesting the intact cervical spine during routine autopsies, including the atlanto-occipital and cervico -thoracic joints, without visible disfigurement above the suprasternal notc h. Summary of Background Data. Despite the need for cervical spine specimens, there are only few articles describing procedures for harvesting an intact cervical spine. Presently available techniques either do not preserve the a tlanto-occipital joint or leave visible disfigurement. Methods. The body was placed in a prone position with the head flexed, and a posterior midline incision was performed. The spine was separated from su rrounding tissue, then the caudal end was cut off through the Th1/Th2 disc space. A circular craniotomy provided access to the cranial base. A square window surrounding the foramen magnum was cut at the cranial base (through the sella turcica, the internal occipital protuberance, and 5 cm parasagitt al on either side), and the entire cervical spine extracted through the pos terior incision. The defect was reconstructed using wood and plaster materi als. Results. Eighteen specimens were harvested to date using this method. The a verage time of harvesting the cervical spine was less than 30 minutes. Reco nstruction using wood and plaster resulted in a nearly normal appearance of the neck. Conclusions. Using this technique, the nuchal ligament providing stability to the cervical spine can be preserved. The suggested method was found simp le, efficient, and reproducible for harvesting the intact cervical spine, i ncluding The atlanto-occipital and cervico-thoracic joints, from any routin e autopsy.