Multilevel Cervical Corpectomy in a Female Patient with Massive Degenerative Disease Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report

Corpectomy is the surgical procedure of resecting a vertebral body or a part of it in order to decompress neural structures. Corpectomy is performed in patients with degenerative disease or cancer and following injury to the spine. We present a case of multilevel corpectomy in a female patient with massive degenerative disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis, combined with cervical myelopathy and osteoporosis. We present the case of a female patient who underwent C4-C5-C6 corpectomy and spinal stabilisation with a Cervical 3D Expandable cage and a cervical plate attached to the C3-C7 bodies. The rheumatoid arthritis caused degenerative changes, which, combined with the impact of environmental conditions and the patient’s postural defects, led to a pathological profile of the spine along the vertical and transverse axis, manifesting clinically as a cervical myelopathy with its characteristic neurological symptoms. Pre-operative imaging studies revealed a critical stenosis of the spinal canal. This report showcases an effective surgical technique for severe degenerative disease bearing an increased risk of tetraplegia that could be brought on by even a minor injury to the cervical spine in the presence of this kind of pathology. Multilevel cervical corpectomy can be an effective method for treating spinal canal stenosis to prevent the onset of neurological deficits. This procedure requires careful diagnostic work-up, surgical planning and an interdisciplinary approach, especially in patients with co-morbidities.