PMID: 7334252Nov 1, 1981Paper

Clinical and radiological study on subtotal vertebrectomy for cervical myelopathy due to multiple-level involvement (author's transl)

Nihon Seikeigeka Gakkai zasshi
H Miyasaka

Abstract

A technique for anterior decompression and fusion has been developed for cervical myelopathy involving two or three levels. The technique consists of subtotal resection of vertebral body or bodies between the involved levels; complete removal of posterior bony spurs, posterior longitudinal ligament, and bulged disc or disci; and interbody fusion with an iliac bone graft. A series of forty-seven patients who had been observed for periods of one to six years and ten months was analyzed in detail. Clinical results evaluated according to Crandall's criteria were "Excellent" in 23 cases (48.9%), "Improved"in 21 cases (44.7%), and "Unchanged" in 3 cases (6.4%). There was not even a single case showing aggravation of symptoms. Out of 33 cases with posterior bony spurs before surgery, 27 cases (81%) showed complete removal of the spurs on postoperative X-rays. The restoration of subarachnoid space was confirmed in nine cases by the postoperative myelogram performed four weeks after surgery. Some authors reported that the spinal fusion might accelerate the degenerative changes in adjacent levels. In this present study some radiological evidences of the degeneration in the adjacent vertebral segments and/or a change of the alignment in t...Continue Reading

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