[What are the Indications and Points of Anterior Cervical Decompression Surgery?].

Anterior cervical foraminotomy is a motion-preserving and precise decompressing surgery with minimal bone removal. As preserving the motion segment and maximizing decompression are contradictory concepts, proficiency is needed to balance these requirements. Anatomical knowledge and good intraoperative orientation are essential to reach the nerve roots accurately in a narrow surgical field.