Close anatomical proximity to vital organs and technical difficulties pose an increased risk of complications in cervical spinal surgery. Certa-inly, spinal cord and spinal nerve injuries are the most important of these complications with po-tentially irreversible consequences. Carotid and vertebral arteries may be compressed or seve-red, particularly during anterior surgical interven-tions. Dysphagia, dysphonia and the obstruction of airways are among the systemic complications. Graft immigration and compression on the canal, implant failure and pseudoarthrosis are not uncommon too. Appropriate preoperative preparation and meticulous surgical technique are of upmost importance in preventing compli-cations of cervical spine surgery.
Keywords: Cervical spine surgery, complica-tions, anterior intervention, posterior intervention, instrumentation.