Anterior Full‐endoscopic Single‐port Double Transcorporeal Spinal Cord Decompression for Noncontinuous Two‐segment Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Technical Note

Abstract

Objective In clinical practice, noncontinuous two‐segment spinal cord cervical spondylosis is a particular form of cervical degenerative disease. Traditional anterior open surgery frequently comes with severe trauma, risks, and debatable treatment options. This study aimed to describe for the first time a novel minimally invasive technique, namely, anterior full‐endoscopic single‐port double transcorporeal spinal cord decompression for the treatment of patients with noncontinuous two‐segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Method From February 2020 to May 2021, five patients with noncontinuous two‐segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy were treated with anterior full‐endoscopic single‐port double transcorporeal spinal cord decompression. Two bone channels were established by the trephine through the vertebral body oblique upward and downward to the herniated disc osteophyte complex, and the full‐endoscopic system could decompress the spinal cord through the channels. All cases were followed up for over 2 years. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score before and after operation and during follow‐up were used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness. Radiological examinations, including CT and MRI, were utilized to evaluate the efficacy of spinal cord decompression and bone channel repair. Results All operations were successfully completed and the average operation time was 185 min, with no operation‐related complications. Compared with the preoperative evaluation, the mJOA score and VAS score were improved at each time point after operation and follow‐up. Postoperative CT and MRI scans showed that the intervertebral disc‐osteophyte complex was removed through the vertebral bone passage, and the spinal cord was fully decompressed. After 24 months of follow‐up, CT and MRI scans showed that the bone channel was almost repaired and healed. Conclusion Anterior full‐endoscopic single‐port double transcorporeal spinal cord decompression is an effective minimally invasive technique for noncontinuous two‐segment cervical spondylosis. It provides precise and satisfactory spinal cord decompression under endoscopic visualization with minimum trauma.

Keywords

• Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
• Full‐endoscopic operation
• Minimally invasive spine surgery
• Noncontiguous levels
• Transcorporeal approach