Surgical Treatment of Multilevel Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Open-Door Laminoplasty and Fixation via Unilateral Approach. A Feasibility Study

Objective We compared open-door laminoplasty via a unilateral approach and additional unilateral lateral mass screw fixation (uLP) with laminectomy and bilateral lateral mass screw fixation (LC) in the surgical treatment of multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy (mDCM). Methods A retrospective cohort analysis of 46 prospectively enrolled patients (23 uLP and 23 LC). The minimum follow-up was 1 year. Neck and arm pains were evaluated with visual analog scales and disability with the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Myelopathy was rated with the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score. Cervical sagittal parameters were measured on plain and functional X-ray films with a specific software. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Fusion was defined as <2 degrees of intersegmental motion on flexion/extension radiographs. Results The two groups were similar in age and comorbidities. The mean operation time and the mean hospital stay were shorter in the uLP group (p = 0.015). The intraoperative blood loss did not exceed 200 mL in both groups. At follow-up, the groups showed comparable clinical outcome data. The sagittal profile did not deteriorate in either group. Fusion rates were 67% in the uLP group and 92% in the LC group. No infections occurred in either group. In the LC group, one patient developed a transient C5 palsy. Revision surgery was required for a malpositioned screw (LC) and for one implant failure (uLP). Conclusion Laminoplasty and unilateral fixation via a unilateral approach achieved comparable clinical and radiologic results with laminectomy and bilateral fixation, despite a lower fusion rate. However, the surgical traumatization was less.

Comparing Ipsilateral and Contralateral Laminotomy with Bilateral Decompression in Cases with Far Lateral Disk Herniation and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Introduction The aim of this study was to compare clinical results of bilateral decompression and laminotomy and contralateral laminotomy following discectomy from the same side in patients who have far lateral disk herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis at the same level. Materials and Methods Twenty-four patients with far lateral disk herniation have been divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 14), those who have been through bilateral canal decompression with far lateral discectomy and ipsilateral approach, and group 2 (n = 10), those who have been through far lateral discectomy and bilateral decompression with unilateral approach from contralateral side. Early postoperative, 1st month, and 12th month back and leg pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of the patients have been retrospectively evaluated. Results There is no significant difference between 1st month back and leg pain VAS scores of the groups. But 12th month back and leg pain VAS scores of group 1 are significantly higher than 1st month VAS scores. Also, 12th month back and leg pain VAS scores of group 1 are significantly higher than group 1. In the scanning carried out when the complaints of eight patients in group 1 continued, pars interarticularis fracture has been observed on the side where the surgery has been performed (57.1%). Six of these eight patients have been through stabilization surgery (42.8%). Conclusion Long-term postoperative results are better in cases who have been performed bilateral decompression with unilateral approach from contralateral side with median incision following paramedian incision discectomy in patients with far lateral disk herniation and spinal stenosis.

A Comparison of Bilateral Decompression via Unilateral Approach and Classic Laminectomy in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in terms of postoperative back pain.

Back ground: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common cause of morbidity in elderly patients due to degenerative changes ofspine. Different surgical procedures have been proposed including open lumbar laminectomy and other less invasivedecompressive procedures to minimize soft tissue damage and lessen the post-operative complication. So we conducted thisstudy to find more appropriate and less invasive procedure.Objective: To compare mean post-operative back pain score in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis undergoing bilateraldecompression via unilateral approach versus classic laminectomy.Material and Methods: This randomized control trial was carried out in department of neurosurgery, Saidu Teaching HospitalSharif Swat from April 2018 to October 2018.Atotal of 60 patients having confirmed degenerative lumbar spine stenosis with painscore of >5 on Visual Analogue Score (VAS) presenting in outpatient department were included in the study. Patients not willing forthe study and fulfilling the set exclusion criteria were excluded. Patients were divided in two groups randomly on basis of lotterymethod. Written informed consent was taken and VAS at presentation of all patients was recorded. In group Apatient underwentbilateral decompression via unilateral approach. In-group B patient underwent classic laminectomy. Pain evaluation in both groupsvia Visual Analogue Scoring was recorded before surgery and at 1month post-operative follow-up. Follow up was advised at a 2weeks interval and final outcome was measured at 1 month post operatively. Data collected was analyzed through SPSS 22.Results: In our study the mean age of the patients was 59.12±12.88 years, the male to female ratio was 0.9:1. Statistically highlysignificant difference was found between the study groups with pain at 1st month i.e. p-value=0.000.Conclusion: The bilateral decompression via unilateral approach had significantly reduced post-operative pain as compared toclassic laminectomy in patients with LSS.Key words: pain, classic laminectomy, bilateral decompression, unilateral approach, lumbar spinal Stenosis

A comparison of the bilateral decompression via unilateral approach versus conventional approach transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease in the elderly

Background Bilateral decompression via unilateral approach (BDUA) is an effective surgical approach for treating lumbar degenerative diseases. However, no studies of prognosis, especially the recovery of the soft tissue, have reported using BDUA in an elderly population. The aims of these research were to investigate the early efficacy of the bilateral decompression via unilateral approach versus conventional approach transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease in the patients over 65 years of age, especially in the perioperative factors and the recovery of the soft tissue. Methods The clinical data from 61 aging patients with lumbar degenerative disease who received surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. 31 cases who received the lumbar interbody fusion surgery with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach (BDUA) were compared with 30 cases who received conventional approach transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. The radiographic parameters were measured using X-ray including lumbar lordosis angle and fusion rate. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes at different time points. Fatty degeneration ratio and area of muscle/vertebral body were used to detect recovery of soft tissue. Results The BDUA approach group was found to have significantly less intraoperative blood loss(p < 0.05) and postoperative drainage(p < 0.05) compared to conventional approach transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion group. Symptoms of spinal canal stenosis and nerve compression were significantly relieved postoperatively, as compared with the preoperative state. However, the opposite side had a lower rate of fatty degeneration (9.42 ± 3.17%) comparing to decompression side (11.68 ± 3.08%) (P < 0.05) six months after surgery in the BDUA group. While there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in two sides of conventional transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion approach group six months after surgery. Conclusions Bilateral decompression via unilateral approach (BDUA) is able to reduce the intraoperative and postoperative body fluid loss in the elderly. The opposite side of decompression in BDUA shows less fatty degeneration in 6 months, which indicates better recovery of the soft tissue of the aging patients.