Procedure · Cervical, thoracic & lumbar
Corpectomy
Removes part or all of a vertebral body to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, then rebuilds the front of the spine with a graft and stabilization.
What it is
A corpectomy removes a portion of, or an entire, vertebral body — the solid block of bone at the front of the spine — along with the discs above and below it. It is chosen when the source of compression sits behind the vertebral body itself, where a discectomy or laminectomy alone cannot reach it. After removal, the gap is reconstructed with a strut graft or cage, and fusion with instrumentation restores support and alignment.
When a corpectomy is the right operation
- Compression behind the vertebral body — bone spurs or thickened ligament pressing on the cord from the front, common in advanced cervical stenosis and myelopathy.
- Multi-level disease — when compression spans several segments, removing one or more vertebral bodies can decompress more completely than multiple discectomies.
- Fracture or deformity — selected burst fractures or collapsed vertebrae where the body itself must be removed and rebuilt.
- Failed prior surgery — revision settings where the front of the spine needs to be addressed directly, as part of a revision spine surgery plan.
By region
- Cervical corpectomy — approached from the front of the neck, similar to an ACDF; a plate typically secures the reconstruction.
- Thoracic corpectomy — used where the spinal cord has little room for error; often combined with posterior instrumentation for stability.
- Lumbar corpectomy — rebuilds the front column of the low back when the vertebral body cannot be preserved.
What the surgery involves
Through a carefully planned corridor, the vertebral body and adjacent discs are removed to free the spinal cord or nerves. The resulting space is filled with a structural graft or cage, and the segment is fused — usually with a plate, screws, and rods — so the spine heals into a single stable unit. Computer-assisted navigation may be used to place instrumentation precisely.
Recovery
Because a corpectomy is a larger reconstruction than a simple decompression, recovery is measured in weeks to months and includes activity restrictions while the fusion heals. Most patients are walking the day of or after surgery, with a structured return to activity guided by follow-up imaging.
What to discuss at consultation
- Why corpectomy: what is compressing the cord or nerves and why a smaller operation would not address it.
- Alternatives: multilevel ACDF, posterior decompression and fusion, or nonoperative care where appropriate.
- Reconstruction plan: graft choice, instrumentation, and whether a combined front-and-back approach is needed.
- Risks: the specific risks of vertebral body removal and reconstruction, incomplete relief, and the individual risks of surgery.
Initial consultation or second opinion?
Bring your imaging and your questions. Dr. Choi will review your diagnosis, walk through your options, and tell you plainly whether surgery is the right next step — and if not, what is.