Fig. 2

Radiologic examinations of a 45-year older woman with neck pain for 1 year, who had cigarette consumption for more than 10 years. Preoperative lateral X-ray showed good cervical lordosis (A). However, a sagittal CT scan showed osteophytes at the posterior border of C4/5 and C5/6 (B). MRI demonstrated spinal cord compression at C3/4, C4/5 and C5/6 (C). The patient underwent HS, including CDR at C3/4, and ACDF at C4/5 and C5/6 (D). At 1-year follow-up, lateral X-ray shows satisfactory cervical lordosis (E), and extension-flexion view showed good cervical ROM (F and G). However, a postoperative CT scan showed incomplete bony fusion at both two arthrodesis levels (H)