Surgical Innovation and Technology-Driven Advances in Craniovertebral Junction and Cervical Spine Surgery

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) and subaxial cervical spine represent some of the most anatomically complex and surgically demanding regions of the spine. Conditions such as basilar invagination, Chiari malformation, atlantoaxial instability, and odontoid fractures require precise diagnosis and individually tailored surgical strategies. Over the past decade, advances in neuroimaging, biomechanical understanding, and implant technology have significantly refined clinical decision-making in this field. Nevertheless, considerable variability persists in treatment protocols, particularly for complex instability syndromes, syndromic CVJ disorders, and odontoid fractures in elderly or medically frail populations. Concurrently, the integration of emerging surgical technologies — including three-dimensional printing, intraoperative navigation, robotic-assisted instrumentation, and high-fidelity simulation — is transforming surgical planning, training, and operative precision across this anatomically challenging region.This Research Topic aims to address persistent gaps and ongoing controversies in the diagnosis, classification, and surgical management of CVJ and cervical spine disorders, with a focused lens on how technological innovation is reshaping clinical practice. Despite growing international consensus on foundational topics — such as the classification of basilar invagination and the conservative versus surgical management of Chiari malformation — unresolved questions remain regarding optimal surgical approaches, instrumentation strategies, and patient selection, particularly in high-risk groups including elderly patients, those with osteoporosis, and individuals with syndromic or inflammatory comorbidities. Beyond the operating room, the adoption of 3D-printed biomodels and simulation platforms offers a scalable and ethical pathway for surgical education, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to cadaveric training is restricted. This Research Topic welcomes contributions that bridge established surgical principles with emerging evidence and technological advances, with the goal of developing internationally applicable, evidence-based recommendations that improve patient outcomes and standardise surgical training across diverse healthcare environments.We invite research addressing the following themes:o Diagnosis, classification, and radiological evaluation of CVJ disorders (basilar invagination, Chiari malformation, atlantoaxial instability)o Surgical management of odontoid fractures, including approaches for elderly and osteoporotic patientso The role of 3D printing, biomodels, and simulation in surgical training and pre-operative planningo Intraoperative navigation and robotic-assisted techniques in cervical spine surgeryo Management of syndromic CVJ instability (Down syndrome, Morquio syndrome)o Postoperative complications, readmission, and quality of life following CVJ Topic editors: Fernando Luiz Dantas, RICARDO VIEIRA BOTELHO, François Dantas Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83501/surgical-innovation-and-technology-driven-advances-in-craniovertebral-junction-and-cervical-spine-surgery