Insight into the historic contributions made to modern-day spine surgery provides context for understanding the monumental accomplishments comprising current techniques, technology, and clinical success. Only during the last century did surgical growth occur in the treatment of spinal disorders. With that growth came a renaissance of innovation, particularly with the evolution of spinal instrumentation and fixation techniques. In this article, the authors capture some of the key milestones that have led to the field of spine surgery today, with an emphasis on the historical advances related to instrumentation, navigation, minimally invasive surgery, robotics, and neurosurgical training.
Keywords: ACP = anterior cervical plating; CT = computed tomography; FDA = US Food and Drug Administration; fixation; fusion; history; innovation; instrumentation; navigation; plates; robotics; rods; screws; surgical technique.