Global Spinal Alignment in Cervical Kyphotic Deformity: The Importance of Head Position and Thoracolumbar Alignment in the Compensatory Mechanism

Abstract

Compensation in symptomatic primary C-kypho was via posterior shifting of SVAC7, small T1 slope, and large LL. However, even in C-kypho patients, lumbar degeneration might affect global spinal alignment. Thus, global spinal alignment with cervical kyphosis is characterized as head balanced or trunk balanced.