"General surgical pearls" for the anterior exposure of vertebral fractures

Recently interest has been increasing in the anterior surgical approach for spinal cord decompression and bony stabilization of vertebral compression fractures. Our neurosurgical spine service routinely consults us to provide anterior operative exposure and wound closure for all levels of the thorac ic and lumbar vertebral spine. Averaging about 30 exposures per year we hav e developed an excellent operative experience with these vertebral exposure s. With no complete general surgery reference on anterior vertebral identif ied this summary of our "general surgical pearls" that we have learned and/ or have developed should significantly aid other general and trauma surgeon s who may be asked by their neurosurgical and/or orthopedic surgical collea gues for assistance with these operations.