J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2012 Sep;19(3):116-121. 10.4184/jkss.2012.19.3.116.

Selective Laminoplasty For Cervical Myelopathy: 3 Cases Report

• Lee DW
• Se JG

• KMID: 1435589
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2012.19.3.116

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: 3 cases report.
OBJECTIVES
We present 3 cases of cervical myelopathy treated successfully by selective laminoplasty on 2 levels or less, using Kurokawa technique with a review of the relevant articles. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: As there were no clear criteria for the numbers of the laminae that require decompression in a standard laminoplasty, a wide level laminoplasty from C3 to C7 has been generally done. As a result, complications such as axial pain, C5 root paresis, and loss of range of motion have been reported commonly. To reduce these complications, recent studies have attempted less invasive procedures, such as selective laminoplasty or preservation of posterior ligament and muscle components.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
There were two cases of developmental stenosis and one posterior compressive stenosis that underwent selective laminoplasty. The posterior shift of the spinal cord and the dural expansion were measured by magnetic resonance imaging at 3 or 4 weeks after surgery. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Axial pain was classified as follows; never: Grade 0; mild: Grade 1; moderate: Grade 2; and severe: Grade 4.
RESULTS
The spinal cord had a tendency to shift posterioly and the dura mater was expanded in all cases. Clinical outcomes and axial pain were also improved in all.
CONCLUSIONS
Selective laminoplasty that enabled the surgeon to perform a less invasive surgery preserving operative time and the patient to have a lower risk of C5 root paresis is effective for the developmental stenosis or posterior compressive stenosis less than 3 levels.

Keyword

Cervical myelopathy; Selective laminoplasty

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Constriction, Pathologic
Decompression
Dura Mater
Humans
Ligaments
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Muscles
Operative Time
Orthopedics
Paresis
Range of Motion, Articular
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Diseases

Figure

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  Fig. 1. For measuring of the anterior compression mass, a baseline is drawn to link the middle point of posterior vertebral body margin, and the distances from the baseline to the posterior edge of anterior compression mass is measured.

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  Fig. 2. This figure shows the schematic measurement of the Pavlov ratio which is the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal (A) divided by the anteroposterior diameter of the vertebral body (B).

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  Fig. 3. This is the schematic of the method of estimating the posterior shift of the spinal cord. Initially, the distance from the posterior edge of each vertebral body or disc level to the center of the spinal cord is measured by T2-weighted midsagittal MRI before surgery. A repeated measurement is taken using the same method after surgery. The difference between the two measurements determines the posterior shift.

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  Fig. 4. This is the schematic of the method of estimating the expansion of dura meter. The distances from anterior to posterior edge of dura mater is measured before and after surgery using T2-weighted midsagittal MRI. The expansion is determined by calculating the difference of the diameter between before and after surgery.

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  Fig. 5. (A) Preoperative T2-weighted midsagittal MRI shows marked cord compression and intramedullary high signal at C3-4. The size of the anterior compression mass at C3-4 is 2.89mm. (B) Postoperative T2-weighted midsagittal MRI shows the slightly posterior migration of cord and the expansion of dura mater. The posterior shift is 0.6mm and the expansion of the dura mater is 1.2mm at C3-4.

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  Fig. 6. (A) Preoperative T2-weighted midsagittal MRI shows marked both andterior and posterior cord compression at C4-5-6 and intramedullary high signal at C4-5-6. The size of the anterior compression mass at C4-5 is 2.17mm, C5-6 is 2.67mm. (B) Postoperative T2-weighted midsagittal MRI shows the posterior migration of cord and the expansion of dura mater. The posterior shift is 1.32mm at C4-5, 1.61mm at C5-6 and the expansion of the dura mater is 4.85mm at C4-5, 4.67mm at C5-6.

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  Fig. 7. (A) Preoperative T2-weighted midsagittal MRI shows marked both anterior and posterior cord compression and intramedullary high signal at C3-4. There are calcific changes of the ligamentum flavum at C3-4 and C4 posteriorly. The size of the anterior compression mass at C3-4 is 3.16mm. (B) Postoperative T2-weighted midsagittal MRI shows the slightly posterior migration of cord and the expansion of dura mater. The posterior shift is 0.74mm and the expansion of the dura mater is 5.28mm at C3-4.

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