Long-term results of double-door laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of the long-term results from double-door laminoplasty (Kurokawa's method) for patients with myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and cervical spondylosis was performed. OBJECTIVE: To know whether the short-term results from double-door laminoplasty were maintained over a 10-year period and, if not, the cause of late deterioration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are few long-term follow-up studies on the outcome of laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy. METHODS: In this study, 35 patients with cervical myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine and 25 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, including 5 patients with athetoid cerebral palsy, underwent double-door laminoplasty from 1980 through 1988 and were followed over the next 10 years. The average follow-up period was 153 months (range, 120-200 months) in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and 156 months (range, 121-218 months) in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Neurologic deficits before and after surgery were assessed using a scoring system proposed by the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA score). Patients who showed late deterioration received further examination including computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine. RESULTS: In 32 of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and 23 of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, myelopathy improved after surgery. The improvement of Japanese Orthopedic Association scores was maintained up to the final follow-up assessment in 26 of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and 21 of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Late neurologic deterioration occurred in 10 of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament an average of 8 years after surgery, and in 4 of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, including the 3 patients with athetoid cerebral palsy, an average of 11 years after surgery. The main causes of deterioration in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were a minor trauma in patients with residual cervical cord compression caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and thoracic myelopathy resulting from ossification of the yellow ligament in the thoracic spine. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term results of laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy were maintained over 10years in 78% of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and in most of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, except those with athetoid cerebral palsy. Double-door laminoplasty is a reliable procedure for individuals with cervical stenotic myelopathy.     

Late stress fracture of a well-incorporated autologous fibula strut graft in the cervical spine: a case report

Four-level corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy presents special challenges to successful outcomes. At our institution, where the senior author has performed over 300 multilevel corpectomies with autologous fibula reconstruction, only 11 four-level procedures have been performed. It is important to consider the length of time required for complete revascularization of these long strut grafts as well as unusual postural or gait biomechanics the patient may have. Patients with altered gait or trunk stability who require anterior surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy may be best served by concurrent posterior fusion. We report a case in which a patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and diplegic cerebral palsy developed a stress fracture in the midportion of his well-incorporated autologous fibula strut graft 1 year after it was placed following four-level corpectomy.     

Surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with athetoid cerebral palsy

There have been several reports on surgical interventions in patients with adult cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with athetoid cerebral palsy; however, the long-term effectiveness of these interventions has not been demonstrated. We have performed surgical treatments — posterior fusion with wave-shaped rods and anterior interbody fusion with internal fixators — in 20 patients. The present study included 17 of these patients, 16 men and 1 woman, and their mean follow-up period was 8.6 years (range, 5–15.5 years). One year after surgery, walking ability was improved in 14 patients. Pain in the upper extremities and muscle weakness of the deltoid were alleviated in all patients. One patient showed recurrence of myelopathy after 8.5 years' follow-up. Our surgical technique is effective in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy secondary to athetoid cerebral palsy, even in those with severe involuntary movements. Postoperative rigid external fixations are not required. Received: July 27, 1999 / Accepted: March 7, 2000     

The value of somatosensory- and motor-evoked potentials in predicting and monitoring the effect of therapy in spondylotic cervical myelopathy. Prospective randomized study.

STUDY DESIGN: A 2-year follow-up prospective randomized electrophysiologic and clinical study of patients with spondylotic cervical myelopathy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of somatosensory- and motor-evoked potentials in the evaluation and prediction of the effect of therapy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies have yielded conflicting data concerning the correlation between the changes in evoked potential parameters and the clinical postsurgical outcome in spondylotic cervical myelopathy. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with magnetic resonance images suggesting spondylotic cervical cord compression and clinical signs of cervical myelopathy were divided into two groups according to the degree of clinical cervical cord involvement. The 49 patients with mild and moderate spondylotic cervical myelopathy were randomized into groups that underwent either surgical or conservative therapy. Patients were evaluated clinically and by the means of somatosensory- and motor-evoked potentials. RESULTS: The clinical and evoked potential changes showed good correlation on the group level, but poor correlation intraindividually. There were no significant evoked potential and clinical group changes after 6 months and 2 years in the mild myelopathy group treated either surgically and conservatively, whereas patients with severe myelopathy displayed significant improvement in clinical and evoked potential parameters after surgery. In a subgroup of patients, the isolated segmental medullar N13 abnormality could potentially predict favorable postsurgical clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal evoked potentials showed limited use for evaluating the results of therapy in an individual patient. They could be useful in the group assessment of therapy results and in labeling a subgroup of patients with potentially favorable postsurgical outcome.     

Surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculomyelopathy with abnormal involuntary neck movements. Report of three cases

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy usually arises in patients in their late 40s or early 50s, most frequently at the C5/6 and C6/7 levels. Recently, excellent results have been attained with microsurgery in cases of cervical spondylosis. On the other hand, treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in patients with athetoid dystonic cerebral palsy entails several problems. The authors report three cases of such troublesome myelopathy. A 34-year-old male with severe athetoid movement showed cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Myelography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated compression of the spinal cord through the C3-C5 levels. A 47-year-old female with athetoid dystonic cerebral palsy presented myelopathy. Myelography and MR imaging showed instability and spinal cord compression at the C5/6 level. A 34-year-old male with spasmodic torticollis showed C6 radiculopathy due to cervical disc hernia at the C5/6 level. Cervical anterior decompression with interbody fusion brought temporary improvement in all the three patients. However, such problems as slippage of Halo-vest, difficulty in eating during Halo-vest fixation, relapse of neurological deficit, were experienced. Due to postoperative cervical instability, cervical laminectomy is considered to be contraindicated in such patients. Anterior decompression with bone fusion has been reported effective, but, if athetoid dystonia continues, there is a potential for myelopathic deterioration due to spondylotic changes adjacent to the fused vertebrae.     

颈前路手术治疗4个节段脊髓型颈椎病的中期疗效分析

目的:探讨颈前路手术治疗4个节段脊髓型颈椎病的中期临床效果及其并发症分析。方法:回顾性分析2013年9月~2016年10月,行颈椎前路手术治疗的4个节段脊髓型颈椎病31例患者资料,男18例,女13例,年龄54~74岁,平均58.1±4.9岁,对所有患者进行随访,采用疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)评估颈肩肢体疼痛情况,日本骨科协会(Japanese Orthopedic Association,JOA)评分评估患者神经功能恢复情况,行颈椎正侧位及过伸过屈位X线片,观察钛网等内固定情况,测量C2~C7颈椎椎体高度和颈椎生理曲度,评估植骨融合情况。并记录患者手术相关并发症。结果:27例患者获得随访,随访时间为35~72个月,平均52.7±3.6个月。末次随访时VAS为1.6±0.6分,低于术前的7.2±1.5分,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。末次随访JOA评分为16.1±4.2分,高于术前的8.8±3.7分,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。至末次随访时,患者颈椎椎体高度及颈椎曲度较术前均有明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。所有患者均获得骨性融合,27例患者共出现19例次并发症,脑脊液漏3例,一过性吞咽困难2例,轴性症状1例,C5神经根麻痹2例,邻近节段退变6例,钛网下沉2例,内固定松动、移位2例,螺钉断裂1例。结论:颈前路手术治疗脊髓前方受压为主的4个节段脊髓型颈椎病,能有效恢复颈椎高度和维持颈椎曲度,其中期疗效满意。     

Classification of cervical spondylosis or disc protrusion by preoperative evoked spinal electrogram. Follow-up study.

The evoked spinal electrogram (SEG) was studied in 11 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy or disc protrusion. All the patients were severely handicapped before surgery. The evoked SEG was classified in three grades before and during surgery. Periodic follow-up studies were done at 18 to 35 months, with an average of 24 months. Four of six patients were normal or slightly abnormal SEG recordings showed satisfactory improvement of the disability; however, only one patient showed any improvement when the recording was moderately or severely abnormal. Location of the cord lesion and type of surgery were similar in all patients examined, and the difference was likely ascribed to the physiological change of the intramedullary structures. The evoked SEG provides some information relative to the surgical treatment of spondylotic myelopathy or disc protrusion with cord lesion.     

Surgical outcomes of cervical myelopathy in patients with athetoid cerebral palsy

Purpose

Surgical treatment for cervical myelopathy with athetoid cerebral palsy remains unestablished. Instrumented fusion is reported to have good clinical results; however, there are no data of decompression surgery for this pathology in recent years. This study aimed to assess the surgical outcomes of laminoplasty with or without posterior instrumented fusion for cervical myelopathy in patients with athetoid cerebral palsy.

Methods

A multi-centre surgical series of patients with cervical myelopathy and athetoid cerebral palsy were enrolled in this study. All patients showed symptoms and signs suggestive of cervical myelopathy and underwent laminoplasty with or without instrumented fusion. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Barthel index (BI), and changes in the C2–C7 sagittal Cobb angle in the lateral plain radiograph were analysed.

Results

There were 25 patients (16 men and 9 women; mean age, 54.4 ± 10.8 years) with cervical myelopathy and athetoid cerebral palsy who underwent surgical treatment. The mean follow-up period was 41.9 ± 35.6 months. Overall, the BI significantly improved after surgery, whereas the JOA score and C2–C7 angle did not improve postoperatively. The recovery rate of the JOA score in the laminoplasty group was significantly higher than that of the fusion group (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Cervical laminoplasty with or without instrumented fusion for treating cervical myelopathy due to athetoid cerebral palsy is effective in improving activities of daily living. Cervical laminoplasty may be an effective and less invasive surgical method for selective patients, especially for those with small involuntary movements and no remarkable cervical kyphosis nor instability.

     

皮导节段性脊髓诱发电位在脊髓型颈椎病中的应用

本文通过对１０只成兔、 ２０名神经功能正常看、 ３例椎管狭窄症不伴有脊髓功能障碍和 ３０例脊髓型颈椎病者经皮导出的皮导节段性脊髓诱发电位 （ｐｅｒｃｕｔａｎｅｏｕｓ ｓｅｇｍｅｎｔａｌ ｓｐｉｎａｌ ｃｏｒｄ ｅｖｏｋｅｄｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌ，ＰＳＳＣＥＰ）进行对比分析研究后，证实了从颈背侧中线皮下导出的Ｐ１、Ｎ１和Ｐ２波不仅能对脊髓型颈椎病做出脊髓功能定位诊断，而且对估计预后和制定正确手术方案都有一定参考和实用价值。     

脊髓型颈椎病患者的行走功能

目的:研究脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)患者的行走功能及术后近期改善情况。方法:对103例CSM患者进行行走试验,并对病程、起病症状、脊髓功能评分进行分析,观察手术前、后的行走功能改变。结果:病程大于6个月、脊髓功能评分低的患者下肢行走功能差,手术后改善程度较小。起病时无下肢乏力的患者也存在下肢行走功能障碍。结论:下肢行走功能障碍是CSM患者的早期临床表现,手术后近期可获改善。下肢行走功能可作为CSM严重程度的早期评价指标之一。     

Surgical treatment for cervical myelopathy in patients aged > 80 years

The surgical outcomes of 13 patients who were diagnosed with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were reviewed retrospectively. Mean patient age at surgery was 83 years. The severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score. Daily activities were evaluated using the Barthel index. The preoperative JOA score and Barthel index were 7.8 and 63.5, respectively. The mean JOA score and Barthel index maximum recovery rate were 35% and 24%, respectively. The results of this study imply that surgery for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy aged > 80 years is warranted.     

The value of somatosensory and motor evoked potentials in pre-clinical spondylotic cervical cord compression

Previous studies have yielded conflicting data concerning the value of evoked potential parameters in the assessment of clinical relevance of cervical cord compression in clinically “silent” cases. The aim of this study was to assess the value of somatosensory (SEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the evaluation and prediction of the clinical course, by means of a 2-year follow-up prospective electrophysiological and clinical study performed in patients with clinically “silent” spondylotic cervical cord compression. Thirty patients with MR signs of spondylotic cervical cord compression but without clinical signs of myelopathy were evaluated clinically and using SEPs and MEPs during a 2-year period. The results of the study showed that SEPs and MEPs documented subclinical involvement of cervical cord in 50% of patients with clinically “silent” spondylotic cervical cord compression. During the 2-year period clinical signs of cervical myelopathy were observed in one-third of patients with entry EP abnormality in comparison with no patients with normal EP tests. Combined SEPs and MEPs proved to be a valuable tool in the assessment of the functional relevance of subclinical spondylotic cervical cord compression. Normal EP findings predict a favourable 2-year clinical outcome. Received: 27 February 1998 Revised: 8 June 1998 Accepted: 30 June 1998     

Acquired atlantoaxial instability in children with spastic cerebral palsy

The development of nontraumatic atlantoaxial instability in children with spastic cerebral palsy has not been reported. The authors present three patients with severe spastic quadriplegia who developed C1-C2 instability and cervical myelopathy at mean age 12.6 years. These patients demonstrated a similar clinical picture with symptoms attributed to cervical myelopathy in varied severity including apneic episodes, opisthotonus, alteration in muscle tone, torticollis, respiratory problems, hyperreflexia, and bradycardia. Patient 1 was scheduled for surgery but died due to an apneic episode. Patient 2 refused surgery and has been followed for 3 years while his neurologic condition remains unchanged. Patient 3 underwent occipitocervical decompression and fusion, recovered neurologically, and resumed his previous functional skills. Patients demonstrating considerable functional deterioration or insidious change in their established neurologic status should undergo detailed screening to rule out developing upper cervical instability. Early surgical intervention consisting of spinal decompression and fusion may prevent the development of myelopathy.     

颈后路单开门椎管成形术治疗脊髓型颈椎病

目的:观察颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术对颈椎管狭窄合并钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病的临床效果和可行性。方法:采用颈后路椎管扩大成形术治疗颈椎管狭窄合并钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病30例,男19例,女11例,常规C3-C7减压,棘突打孔10号线固定在门轴侧侧块关节囊上12例,门轴侧C3、C5、C7侧块螺钉固定悬吊椎板18例,术前和术后通过日本骨科学会JOA评分(17分法)评估临床疗效。结果:30例均获得随访,随访时间6～76个月,平均25个月。按照JOA评分:优8例,良14例,可6例,差2例,优良率73.33%(22/30)。其中3例术后3个月内发生C4或C5神经根麻痹,经保守治疗痊愈。2例在2年内因疗效不佳再行前路手术。结论:颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术治疗颈椎管狭窄合并钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病是一种简单、有效可行的方法,尤其适应于老年人。     

Preoperative instability does not influence the clinical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with expansive laminoplasty

Sixty-seven patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with expansive laminoplasty were retrospectively reviewed at a minimum 2-year follow-up. This study was designed to evaluate whether preoperative instability influences the clinical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with laminoplasty without spinal fusion. Patients with preoperative instability were older and had shorter durations of symptoms prior to surgery than those without the instability. There were no significant differences in prevalence of axial symptoms, neurologic recovery, or radiologic findings between patients with and without preoperative cervical instability. At follow-up, the cervical range of motion was limited to 43.5% of the preoperative range, and no cervical instability was observed in any patients. Preoperative instability does not influence the clinical outcome and can be ignored if expansive laminoplasty is indicated for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.     

高位颈段脊髓型颈椎病的诊断与外科治疗

目的：观察高位颈段脊髓型颈椎病的临床表现特点，评价外科干预最终疗效。方法：本报告59例高位脊髓型预椎病。并均行手术治疗。结果：术后平均随访1年7个月，疗效根据日本矫形学会（JOA）评分分级法，优38例，良8例，改进4例，无效3例，加重1例。结论：高位脊髓型颈椎病神经系统障碍表现严重，但神经系统定位体征不十分明显。因此，准确诊断早期减压是提高疗效的主要措施。     

后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病

 目的 探讨后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病的疗效及并发症预防。方法 2008年1月至2011年1月,采用颈椎后路手术治疗的患者43例,年龄42～74岁,平均59.6岁。手术前后采用日本骨科协会评分(Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores,JOA)判定神经功能,颈椎功能残障指数量表(neck disability index,NDI)评价颈肩轴性痛程度,Ishihara法测定颈椎曲率指数(cervical curvature index, CI),在MRI上测量脊髓扩大和后移程度。结果 43例患者手术平均减压(3.91±0.86)个节段(3～5个节段)。全部病例平均随访38个月(20～60个月)。术后3～6个月复查时颈椎植骨完全融合。术后JOA评分为(14.31±1.33)分,较术前(8.16±1.11)分有明显改善,临床效果优良率为95.34%。术后CI为15.30%±3.18%,较术前7.36%±9.69%有明显改善。术后颈椎中立位MRI显示最狭窄处硬膜囊前后径为(6.10±0.89) mm较术前(2.92±1.49) mm明显增加,较术前增加了108.9%。颈脊髓平均向后漂移(4.59±1.20) mm(2.97～6.68 mm)。术后NDI评分为(4.90±2.46)分,较术前(19.36±8.61)分有明显改善。随访期间均未出现C5神经根麻痹,无内固定松动、脱出、断裂等并发症发生。结论 后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定术治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病,能有效地改善神经功能,恢复和维持颈椎正常曲度,降低轴性症状和C5神经根麻痹发生率。     

脊髓型颈椎病的早期诊断和手术时机

目的探讨脊髓型颈椎病早期诊断和外科手术时机。方法报告并讨论７４例脊髓型颈椎病患者早期诊断,并经颈前路减压、自体髂骨融合术的临床表现、治疗方法及结果等。结果脊髓型颈椎病早期起病隐匿,颈部痛觉轻微,以肢体运动和感觉异常及手臂症状最为常见,检查时可发现神经功能的改变;影像学检查的特征性变化有助于本病的早期诊断。本组７４例患者中,６８例获随访,平均随访时间１６个月,按我国４０分评定法,３０分以上者５８例（８５．３％）。结论脊髓型颈椎病早期诊断,早期施行手术治疗是提高脊髓型颈椎病疗效的重要因素。     

皮层体感诱发电位信号改善对脊髓型颈椎病手术预后的评价

[目的]研究皮层体感诱发电位(cortical somatosensory evoked potential,CSEP)在脊髓型颈椎病(cervicalspondylotic myelopathy,CSM)手术后出现信号改善(潜伏期缩短,或/和波幅增高)与临床症状恢复的相关性。[方法]对2008年7月～2010年5月本院收治的58例CSM患者,行术前、术中及术后CSEP监护并记录CSEP值,根据脊髓监护手术前后CSEP是否改善分为两组:波形改善组(A组),表现为波幅升高(>50%),或(和)潜伏期缩短(<5%);波形无改善组(B组)。于颈椎手术术前、术后1周和6个月分别行JOA评分(Japanese Orthopaedic As-sociation scoring system)评价神经功能,观察CSEP变化与神经功能恢复之间的关系。[结果]58例患者中36例(62.1%)CSEP出现改善;A组JOA评分术前、术后1周及术后6个月分别为8.42±1.06,14.71±1.31,15.43±1.26;B组分别为8.61±1.13,11.92±1.15,15.21±1.23。术后1周A组恢复高于B组(P<0.05...     

Intraoperative evaluation of bone decompression in anterior cervical spine surgery by three-dimensional fluoroscopy

Sufficient bone decompression of osteophytes is essential for functional long-term outcome in surgery for spondylotic cervical myelopathy. Postoperative CT scans clearly show that decompression is sometimes insufficient. Intraoperative CT scanning has been used to monitor sufficient decompression. Instead of standard intraoperative fluoroscopy, we used an isocentered three-dimensional (3D) flouroscopy with 3D image reconstruction to evaluate the extent of bone decompression. From October 2003 to April 2004, we have used intraoperative 3D fluoroscopy on seven patients with anterior cervical spine surgery due to cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Five patients were operated on in one level, two patients had surgery in two segments. If surgery was performed in two levels or preoperative cinetic MRT showed cervical instability, internal plate fixation was done additionally. All patients were positioned on a radiolucent operating table, made of carbon fibers. Three-dimensional fluoroscopy was always performed before wound closure to evaluate sufficient bone removal. The scanning time was 120 s and the whole procedure from scanning to evaluation is approximately 5 min. In all patients we were able to evaluate the extent of bone decompression. Additionally, placement of cage, plates and screws can be evaluated intraoperatively. In one patient, 3D fluoroscopy showed insufficient decompression, especially on the right side. Further bone removal was performed before the end of the procedure. Intraoperative 3D fluoroscopy is a valuable tool for imaging bone decompression and implant location in anterior cervical spine surgery. The technique is safe, reliable and should help us to avoid incomplete decompression or misplacement of implants and therefore improve long-term functional outcome in cervical spine surgery in the future.