Clinical recovery after 5 level of posterior decompression spine surgeries in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Summary: Background/Objective: The selection of surgical technique in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy relies on the surgeon(s) and patients' conditions. The objectives of the study were to test the hypotheses that French-door laminoplasty recovers faster than laminectomy and has good outcome measures. Methods: Data regarding surgical, radiological, and clinical outcome measures of 330 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy operated under French-door laminoplasty (fdLP group, n = 110), open-door laminoplasty (odLP group, n = 110), or laminectomy (LC group, n = 110) were collected from the records of institute and analyzed. Results: Patients of fdLP group (p < 0.0001, q = 11.65) and odLP group (p < 0.0001, q = 11.27) both had significantly improved modified Rankin scale score than those of LC group. In addition, patients of fdLP group had minimum blood loss during operations and that was maximum for patients of the LC group. Unlike patients of fdLP group (p < 0.0001, q = 80) and LC group (p < 0.0001, q =122), those of odLP group had lost more amount of cervical lordotic after surgery. Open-door laminoplasty had significantly reduced cervical range of motion than laminectomy (p < 0.0001, q = 15.45) and French-door laminoplasty (p < 0.0001, q = 13.45). After 12-months, fdLP group had higher bone union rate than odLP group (p = 0.007, q = 3.395) and LC group (p = 0.007, q = 4.243). French door laminoplasty had a better postoperative quality of life. Conclusions: Among the posterior decompression spine surgeries, French-door laminoplasty is superior surgical procedure than laminectomy and could be superior surgical technique than open-door laminoplasty. Keywords: Bone union, Cervical spondylotic myelopathy, Cervical lordotic, Posterior decompression spine surgeries, Spinal cord volume