Subtotal corpectomy versus laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a long-term follow-up study over 10 years.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted. OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term outcomes of subtotal corpectomy and laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: No study has compared the long-term outcomes between subtotal corpectomy and laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: In this study, 23 patients treated with subtotal corpectomy and 24 patients treated with laminoplasty were followed up for 10 to 14 years after surgery. Neurologic recovery, late deterioration, axial pain, radiographic results (degenerative changes at adjacent levels, alignment, and range of motion of the cervical spine), and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference in neurologic recovery was found between the two groups 1 and 5 years after surgery, or at the latest follow-up assessment. Neurologic status deteriorated in one patient of the subtotal corpectomy group because of adjacent degeneration, and in one patient of the laminoplasty group because of hyperextension injury. Axial pain was observed in 15% of the corpectomy group and in 40% of the laminoplasty group (P < 0.05). In the corpectomy group, listhesis exceeding 2 mm developed at 38% of the upper adjacent levels, and osteophyte formation at 54% of the lower adjacent levels. In the laminoplasty group, kyphotic deformity developed in one patient (6%) after surgery. In the corpectomy group, the mean vertebral range of motion had decreased from 39.4 degrees to 19.2 degrees (49%) by the final follow-up assessment. In the laminoplasty group, the mean vertebral range of motion had decreased from 40.2 degrees to 11.6 degrees (29%) by the final follow-up assessment. Neurologic complications related to the surgery occurred in two patients (one myelopathy from bone graft dislodgement and one C5 root palsy from bone graft fracture) of the corpectomy group and four patients (C5 root palsy) of the laminoplasty group. All of these patients recovered over time. The corpectomy group needed longer operative time (P < 0.001) and tended to have more blood loss (P = 0.24). Six patients in the corpectomy group needed posterior interspinous wiring because of pseudarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Subtotal corpectomy and laminoplasty showed an identical effect from a surgical treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. These neurologic recoveries usually last more than 10 years. In the subtotal corpectomy group, the disadvantages were longer surgical time, more blood loss, and pseudarthrosis. In the laminoplasty group, axial pain occurred frequently, and the range of motion was reduced severely.     

Reduction in range of cervical motion on serial long-term follow-up in patients undergoing oblique corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Purpose

To determine whether motion preservation following oblique cervical corpectomy (OCC) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) persists with serial follow-up.

Methods

We included 28 patients with preoperative and at least two serial follow-up neutral and dynamic cervical spine radiographs who underwent OCC for CSM. Patients with an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) were excluded. Changes in sagittal curvature, segmental and whole spine range of motion (ROM) were measured. Nathan’s system graded anterior osteophyte formation. Neurological function was measured by Nurick’s grade and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores.

Results

The majority (23 patients) had a single or 2-level corpectomy. The average duration of follow-up was 45 months. The Nurick’s grade and the JOA scores showed statistically significant improvements after surgery (p < 0.001). 17 % of patients with preoperative lordotic spines had a loss of lordosis at last follow-up, but with no clinical worsening. 77 % of the whole spine ROM and 62 % of segmental ROM was preserved at last follow-up. The whole spine and segmental ROM decreased by 11.2° and 10.9°, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). Patients with a greater range of segmental movement preoperatively had a statistically greater range of movement at follow-up. The analysis of serial radiographs indicated that the range of movement of the whole spine and the range of movement at the segmental spine levels significantly reduced during the follow-up period. Nathan’s grade showed increase in osteophytosis in more than two-thirds of the patients (p ≤ 0.01). The whole spine range of movement at follow-up significantly correlated with Nathan’s grade.

Conclusions

Although the OCC preserves segmental and whole spine ROM, serial measurements show a progressive decrease in ROM albeit without clinical worsening. The reduction in this ROM is probably related to degenerative ossification of spinal ligaments.     

颈椎椎体次全切除钛网钢板固定治疗颈椎管狭窄症

目的探讨颈椎椎体次全切除钛网钢板固定治疗颈椎管狭窄症的疗效。方法对确诊为颈椎管狭窄症患者62例,采用颈前路椎体次全切除钛网植骨钢板固定,对比手术前后患者的JOA评分,分析术前、术后及随访时的动力位片,观察钛网、钢板的位置及颈椎前凸角的变化。结果获得完整随访的患者42例,术后随访6～48个月（平均24个月）,6～8个月均获得植骨融合。术后颈椎前凸角改善明显,钛网及钢板位置稳定,JOA评分在术后获得较显著提高（P〈0.05）。结论颈椎椎体次全切除钛网钢板固定治疗颈椎管狭窄症近期疗效肯定,是一种值得推广的术式,但该术式应严格掌握其适应证。     

Functional outcome of corpectomy in cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Background:

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is serious consequence of cervical intervertebral disk degeneration. Morbidity ranges from chronic neck pain, radicular pain, headache, myelopathy leading to weakness, and impaired fine motor coordination to quadriparesis and/or sphincter dysfunction. Surgical treatment remains the mainstay of treatment once myelopathy develops. Compared to more conventional surgical techniques for spinal cord decompression, such as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, laminectomy, and laminoplasty, patients treated with corpectomy have better neurological recovery, less axial neck pain, and lower incidences of postoperative loss of sagittal plane alignment. The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of corpectomy in cervical spondylotic myelopathy, to assess their improvement of symptoms, and to highlight complications of the procedure.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-four patients underwent cervical corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy during June 1999 to July 2005.The anterior approach was used. Each patient was graded according to the Nuricks Grade (1972) and the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) Scale (1991), and the recovery rate was calculated.

Results:

Preoperative patients had a mean Nurick''s grade of 3.83, which was 1.67 postoperatively. Preoperative patients had a mean mJOA score of 9.67, whereas postoperatively it was 14.50. The mean recovery rate of patients postoperatively was 62.35% at a mean follow-up of 1 year (range, 8 months to 5 years).The complications included one case (4.17%) of radiculopathy, two cases (8.33%) of graft displacement, and two cases (8.33%) of screw back out/failure.

Conclusions:

Cervical corpectomy is a reliable and rewarding procedure for CSM, with functional improvement in most patients.     

Patient perceived outcome after central corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

BACKGROUND: Patient perception of outcome after decompressive surgery for CSM is infrequently reported. We evaluated a simple, quantitative patient-reported assessment of outcome after CC for CSM by comparing it with the NGRR. METHODS: In a prospective study between 1994 and 2004, patients who underwent CC for CSM were asked to quantify the outcome (relative to their preoperative status) on a scale of 0 to 100. Patient perceived outcome score was compared with the NGRR (preoperative grade - postoperative grade / preoperative grade x 100) at the same follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients with a follow-up ranging from 6 to 72 months (mean, 16.3 months) were evaluated. There was a good positive correlation between PPOS and NGRR for the whole group (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.62; P < .001), good-grade patients (preoperative Nurick grade of 1-3) (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.52; P < .001), and poor-grade patients (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.79; P < .001); the correlation was strongest in the poor-grade group of patients. kappa statistic revealed moderate agreement between the 2 scores in the whole group (kappa = 0.45), substantial agreement in the poor-grade patients (kappa = 0.61), and fair agreement in the good-grade patients (kappa = 0.34). In 28 of the 208 patients (13.5%), there was no agreement between the 2 scores with a significantly greater proportion (24/28), reporting an improvement in spite of no change in their Nurick grade (McNemar chi(2) test, P = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was good agreement and a positive correlation between PPOS and NGRR, the disagreement in 13.5% of patients suggests that the 2 scores are evaluating some dissimilar functional domains; therefore, PPOS provides additional independent data in the assessment of the results of decompressive surgery for CSM. Patient-reported outcome should be included in reporting outcome of decompressive surgery for CSM.     

Multilevel oblique corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy preserves segmental motion

Purpose

To document the neurological outcome, spinal alignment and segmental range of movement after oblique cervical corpectomy (OCC) for cervical compressive myelopathy.

Methods

This retrospective study included 109 patients—93 with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 16 with ossified posterior longitudinal ligament in whom spinal curvature and range of segmental movements were assessed on neutral and dynamic cervical radiographs. Neurological function was measured by Nurick’s grade and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores. Eighty-eight patients (81%) underwent either a single- or two-level corpectomy; the remaining (19%) undergoing three- or four-level corpectomies. The average duration of follow-up was 30.52 months.

Results

The Nurick’s grade and the JOA scores showed statistically significant improvements after surgery (p < 0.001). The mean postoperative segmental angle in the neutral position straightened by 4.7 ± 6.5°. The residual segmental range of movement for a single-level corpectomy was 16.7° (59.7% of the preoperative value), for two-level corpectomy it was 20.0° (67.2%) and for three-level corpectomies it was 22.9° (74.3%). 63% of patients with lordotic spines continued to have lordosis postoperatively while only one became kyphotic without clinical worsening. Four patients with preoperative kyphotic spines showed no change in spine curvature. None developed spinal instability.

Conclusions

The OCC preserves segmental motion in the short-term, however, the tendency towards straightening of the spine, albeit without clinical worsening, warrants serial follow-up imaging to determine whether this motion preservation is long lasting.     

前路椎体次全切除减压及带锁钢板固定治疗脊髓型颈椎病

目的 探讨带锁钢板在颈前路开槽式减压植骨治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病中的应用价值。方法５５例脊髓型颈椎病患者,男性３６例,女性１９例,年龄平均５１．５岁,病程平均１３个月。病变累及２个功能节段者４７例,累及３个功能节段者８例,术前ＪＯＡ评分平均为８．３分。病变部位全部行颈前椎体次全切除减压,自体髂骨植骨,带锁钢板固定术。结果５１例获随访,平均２６个月,植骨全部于术后１２～１６周骨性愈合,术后恢复之椎间高     

颈前路椎体次全切除联合椎间隙减压融合治疗多节段脊髓型颈椎病

目的:探讨多节段颈椎病颈前路椎体次全切除联合椎间隙减压融合内固定术的疗效。方法 :对2012年10月至2014年6月行颈椎前路治疗的28例脊髓型颈椎病的临床资料进行回顾性分析,其中男18例,女10例;年龄45~77(60.11±9.37)岁;27例患者病变累及3个节段,1例累及4个节段;术前JOA评分为8.89±1.87,拟融合节段Cobb角为(4.87±4.56)°,颈椎曲度为(11.68±1.25)°,均行颈椎前路椎体次全切除联合椎间隙减压融合内固定术。通过影像学资料测量术后1、12个月时的融合节段Cobb角、颈椎曲度,并采用JOA评分评价疗效。结果:手术时间120~205 min,平均163 min;术中出血量100~300 ml,平均198 ml;术后1例患者出现声音嘶哑,术后3周恢复正常;1例出现饮水呛咳,术后1周恢复正常。28例患者均获得随访,时间12~24(18.46±3.20)个月。术后12个月植骨椎间隙均获骨性愈合,内固定物位置良好。术后1、12个月时融合节段Cobb角与颈椎曲度及JOA评分均较术前明显改善(P0.05)。术后12个月JOA评分改善率为(46.46±20.26)%,手术疗效根据改善率评定:优12例,良14例,好转2例。结论:颈椎前路椎体次全切除联合椎间隙减压融合内固定术治疗多节段颈椎病效果满意。     

Anterior surgical options for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in a long-term follow-up study

Objective

To provide a basis for the choice of anterior surgery procedures in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) through long-term follow-up.

Methods

A consecutive series of 89 patients with CSM having complete follow-up data were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) from July 2000 to June 2007. The lesions were located in one segment (n = 25), two segments (n = 56), and three segments (n = 8). Preoperative and postoperative, the C2–C7 angle, cervical intervertebral height, radiographic fusion status, result of the adjacent segment degeneration, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), and the Short Form 36-item (SF36) questionnaire scores were used to evaluate the efficacy of the surgery.

Results

According to the different compression conditions of the 89 cases, different anterior operation procedures were chosen and satisfactory results were achieved, indicating that direct anterior decompressions were thorough and effective. The follow-up period was 60–108 months, and the average was 79.6 months. The 5-year average symptom improvement rate, effectiveness rate, and fineness rate were 78.36 %, 100 % (89/89), and 86.52 % (77/89), respectively.

Conclusions

For CSM with compression coming from the front side, proper anterior decompression based on the specific conditions could directly eliminate the compression. Through long-term follow-up, the effect of decompression became observable.     

Efficacy of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion versus corpectomy and fusion for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a minimum 5-year follow-up study

Purpose

We evaluated radiologic and clinical outcomes to compare the efficacy of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Methods

A total of 40 patients who underwent ACDF or ACCF for multilevel CSM were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 25) underwent ACDF and group B (n = 15) ACCF. Clinical outcomes (JOA and VAS scores), perioperative parameters (length of hospital stay, blood loss, operation time), radiological parameters (fusion rate, segmental height, cervical lordosis), and complications were compared.

Results

Both group A and group B demonstrated significant increases in JOA scores and significant decreases in VAS. Patients who underwent ACDF experienced significantly shorter hospital stays (p = 0.031), less blood loss (p = 0.001), and shorter operation times (p = 0.024). Both groups showed significant increases in postoperative cervical lordosis and achieved satisfactory fusion rates (88.0 and 93.3 %, respectively). There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications among the groups.

Conclusions

Both ACDF and ACCF provide satisfactory clinical outcomes and fusion rates for multilevel CSM. However, multilevel ACDF is associated with better radiologic parameters, shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, and shorter operative times.     

相邻两节段脊髓型颈椎病前路不同术式的比较

[目的]比较前路颈椎体次全切除植骨融合术(anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion,ACCF)和前路颈椎间盘切除植骨融合术(anterior cervical discectomy with fusion,ACDF)两种术式在相邻两节段脊髓型颈椎病手术治疗中的应用.[方法]对2006年6月～ 2010年3月相邻两节段脊髓型颈椎病手术治疗患者的临床资料和影像学资料进行回顾性研究,共67例符合研究要求,其中ACCF 36例,ACDF 31例.评估、比较两组的围手术期指标(住院日、出血量、手术时间、取骨处并发症以及颈部并发症)、临床疗效指标(脊髓神经功能JOA评分、颈部及上肢疼痛VAS评分)及影像学指标(颈椎矢状曲度情况、颈椎前凸角度、颈椎活动度、融合节段活动度、融合节段前后缘高度及融合率).[结果]平均随访时间ACCF (28.96±13.21)个月,ACDF (26.81±11.02)个月.两组间比较时,手术时间及术中出血量ACCF比ACDF多,并发症发生率更高,有显著性差异,而术后随访时颈椎前凸角度以及融合节段高度ACCF比ACDF低,有显著性差异,其他参数无显著性差异.但组内比较时,术后即刻与术前、术后6周时与术后即刻有显著性差异,末次随访时与术后6周时ACCF融合节段后缘高度相比有显著性差异,其余指标及ACDF组内无显著性差异.[结论] ACCF、ACDF均是治疗相邻两节段脊髓型颈椎病的有效术式,但ACDF在手术时间、出血量、并发症发生率以及一些影像学指标上有显著性优势,具体的手术方式选择应根据脊髓受压迫需要减压的部位而定.     

A comparison of anterior cervical discectomy and corpectomy in patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Background  

The optimal surgical approach for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) has not been defined, and the relative merits of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy (2-level or skip 1-level corpectomy) and fusion (ACCF) remain controversial. However, few comparative studies have been conducted on these two surgical approaches.     

两种颈椎前路减压融合术治疗脊髓型颈椎病的临床疗效分析

[目的]回顾性分析比较椎间盘切除减压融合术(ACDF)和椎体次全切除减压融合术(ACCF)在治疗相邻两个节段脊髓型颈椎病的临床疗效及影像学数据.[方法]2005年4月～2007年8月,采用ACDF和ACCF治疗相邻两个节段脊髓型颈椎病156例.临床疗效采用日本骨科学会评分系统(JOA评分)对术前、末次随访的临床疗效进行评价.比较两组患者I临床疗效及手术时间、住院大数、术中失血量、颈椎活动度、颈椎曲度及节段性高度.[结果]两组的临床改善优良率无显著性差异(P＞0.05),ACDF组与ACCF组术中平均出血量及手术时间有显著性差异(P＜0.01),ACCF较ACDF增加,而ACCF组术后的节段性高度及颈椎前凸角较ACDF组明显降低(P＜0.01).[结论]ACDF与ACCF均能达到良好的手术疗效,然而ACDF在减少术中出血量、手术时间,改善和维持术后颈椎前凸角度及节段性高度较ACCF作用明显,但ACDF要求技术较高,有较长的学习曲线.     

Combined single‐level subtotal corpectomy and decompression for cervical spondylotic myelopathy treatment

Background: The purpose of this study was to summarize outcomes of patients with refractory multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) who were treated by combined single‐level subtotal corpectomy and decompression of the intervertebral space using the anterior approach. Methods: Forty‐five consecutive patients with multisegmental CSM were included; their ages ranged from 37 to 72 years. Seventeen (37.8%) patients had noncontiguous or ‘jumping’ multisegmental CSM and 28 (62.2%) had contiguous multisegmental CSM. The mean preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was 8.1 points. All patients underwent combined single‐level decompression of the involved intervertebral space and subtotal corpectomy together with subsequent fusion and internal fixation. An anterior approach was used for all patients. A cage filled with bone graft was inserted and internal fixation was performed after single‐level intervertebral space decompression. Mesh filled with bone graft was inserted and plate internal fixation was performed after subtotal corpectomy. Results: Follow‐up data (average follow‐up, 14 months) were available for all 45 patients; the mean postoperative JOA score was 13.2 points, which was significantly different from the preoperative JOA score. Bony fusion was achieved in all patients based on postoperative radiography, and no pseudoarthrosis was observed during follow‐up. Conclusions: An excellent outcome can be achieved with the combination of single‐level subtotal corpectomy and decompression of the intervertebral space using the anterior approach to treat multisegmental CSM.