[Anterior and antero-lateral surgery of the lower cervical spine (25 years after H. Verbiest). 2: Indications, results, complications)].

The present course on the anterior and antero-lateral surgical approach of the lower cervical spine was organized for the neurosurgery trainees by the French Speaking Neurosurgical Society, and was held during the winter meeting in December 1995. The aim of this course was to recall the basic technical principles of the microsurgical anterior cervical approach, and to discuss the main indications of this surgical treatment. Many theoretical points were strengthened by the author's personal experience and comments. In Part I, the technical bases of the different anterior or antero-lateral approaches were presented (1996, 42 : 105-122). In the present Part II, the main indications of the anterior surgical approach to the cervical disk or the vertebral body are detailed, and the requirement of a bone graft and/or an osteosynthesis are discussed with their consequences on the final results. Secondly, variants of the surgical technics in use in case of cervical spinal instability are commented. Then various approaches to the cervical spinal tumors and to the vertebral artery are detailed and commented. Lastly, general and specific complications of the anterior cervical approach are listed with their rate of occurrence, and their prevention and management are discussed.