The complex bone and vascular anatomy of the neck have long challenged surgeons.
Treatments have greatly evolved over the last century, and doctors need to document them and understand their logic. Illustrators are vital in this task.
Pictured is a surgical technique used to repair a fracture that occurs in the second vertebra of the spine (vertebra C2):
π’ a hook-and-screw combination to fuse the vertebra C2 with the first vertebra of the spine (C1)
π’ alternative technique to treat the excessive movement of the junction between the C2 and C1 vertebra, caused by the fracture and causing pain
π’ though not common, the procedure is simple and reduces risk of neurovascular injury.
Isabel used real human vertebrae as models and painted in watercolor for an organic, natural effect and digital imagery for the medical instruments.
Thank you πͺπΈ Isabel Romero Calvo, MS PhD the founder of Morphology LLC, a biomedical visualization company, and a clinical assistant professor at πΊπΈ UIC College of Applied Health Sciences in Chicago.
The illustration was made for a review of historical cervical spine surgical techniques https://lnkd.in/eqNZDZf.