Younger spinal surgeons are doing a microdiscectomy in the lumbar spine. The experience gained will help a lot to achieve excellence in cervical lateral mass surgery. Being a new branch, the cumulative experience may not be rich but the developments have been so vast that it has attracted the attention of spinal surgeons very quickly and procedures like endoscopic cervical microdiscectomy, robot-assisted cervical discectomy, endo micro approach to the anterior and posterior cervical spine, etc. has become a reality.

Developments in cervical spinal stabilization have helped immensely to achieve progress in deformity reconstruction surgery which has now become an established discipline in cervical spinal surgery. Lateral mass stabilization with screws and rods is one such example. My colleagues and I feel immensely satisfied with the outcome as the contribution has been visionary.

With advance in medicine, the cervical spinal surgery has rapidly progressed and is today recognized as one of the most popular branches of spinal surgery after lumbar spine.

Fast pace and competitive spirit in day-to-day work unfortunately accelerates degeneration in the cervical spine and we see a lot of patients in the out-patient department with pain in the neck due to cervical spondylosis. The degeneration is so much advanced that decompression and stabilization appears to be in order. Posterior decompression and lateral mass stabilization is an excellent and safe technique to achieve this.8

It is my ambition that this book should prove useful to guide all new spinal surgeons. I feel confident that it will be well received by the readers and particularly the younger generation of spinal surgeons all over the world. Continuous medical updates are mandatory to maintain the standards of practice. Similarly, in today's world, the experience of any spinal surgeon should never depend on a single teacher. The author Dr Parthiban is very meticulous and precise as well as thoughtful in making this book a useful guide. It will help them to provide better care to their patients. I feel very happy that Dr JKBC Parthiban has ventured to bring out this book in right time for the younger generation to learn and acquire this useful technique in cervical spinal stabilization.

There was a need for a simple illustrative book to show this technique done Step by Step for the young and practicing spine surgeons. Realizing this and understanding the need of younger generations during many cadaver dissection workshops, I decided to bring out an ideal book that would satisfy many surgeons.

While preparing this book, I kept one important point in my mind that I should deliver whatever I needed when I was a beginner in this subject. Though late this book has taken its shape at last and I am sure this may not be the last one from me. Many may come in future.

The take home message at the end is that the superolateral quadrant of the lateral mass of sub-axial cervical spine is the safest to place a screw and it is simple and safe.

Books are not written to be followed blindly. Surgeons are requested to go through it leisurely but at the same time cautiously and then practice with care and guidance. In case of doubt, no time should be wasted to communicate with me for clarification. My best wishes to all who are going to be benefitted by this small book.

Finally, we live to transfer our knowledge to others for the benefit of mankind.

I thank the staff and management of Medical Trust Hospital, Cochin, Global Hospital, Chennai and Kovai Medical Center Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, for their support.

My special thanks to my nursing staff and theater technicians for their whole-hearted involvement.

The high quality pictures were taken by the team from Mr Anand's Video Vision, Coimbatore. Their commitment to the profession was great and I appreciate their cooperation.

Mr Samuel Williams, Gesco-Chennai is instrumental in arranging the instruments, implants and the bone models for the project. Many thanks to him.

I am grateful to Shri Jitendar P Vij (Group Chairman) and Mr Ankit Vij (Group President) of M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, India. My special thanks to Mr Tarun Duneja (Director–Publishing) and Mrs Samina Khan (Executive Assistant to Director–Publishing) for their kind cooperation in helping us to publish this edition in time. Finally, my sincere thanks to all the associates of the company with special mention to Mr KK Raman (Production Manager).

Mr Sabarish (Commissioning Editor), Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., was in constant touch until the last moves were made to get the book completed.

My special thanks to Mrs Chetna (Associate Director–Content Strategy) for her immense help in shaping and bringing out the book in this present shape. I also thank all the other staff involved in designing and printing.

Roy Camille, a French orthopedic surgeon, popularized this technique. Magerl's modified the technique with changes in the screw trajectory using longer screws and gaining bicortical purchase of the lateral mass and claimed biomechanical superiority. Plates and monoaxial screws are now replaced with polyaxial screws and rods making the procedure very simple.

In this book, the technique of lateral mass fixation is described methodically for the readers to understand easily using simple language. The book is divided into two sections viz. Basics and Surgical Techniques and ends with illustrative cases. Readers are also encouraged to refer various textbooks and literature on this subject to enjoy this book.