Anterior plate instrumentation for disorders of the subaxial cervical spine.

Anterior cervical plate instrumentation is useful in the maintenance of cervical alignment, the prevention of graft extrusion, and the development of late deformity as well as potentially avoiding the need for a secondary posterior cervical procedure in the setting of cervical trauma. Its role in cervical reconstruction after decompression for cervical spondylosis is evolving. The definite risks of anterior cervical instrumentation should be considered, that is, screw and plate displacement or screw violation of neurologic structures, before the implementation of this form of fixation.