Clinical Outcomes of Cervical Laminoplasty: Results at Two Years

Efficacy and safety of laminoplasty combined with C3 laminectomy for patients with multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Laminoplasty (LP) combined with C3 laminectomy (LN) can effectively achieve spinal cord decompression while maintaining the integrity of the posterior ligament-muscle complex, thereby minimizing cervical muscle damage. However, its necessity and safety remain controversial. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of LP and LP combined with C3 LN in the treatment of patients with multilevel degenerative cervical spondylotic myelopathy (DCM).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was performed. A search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted from inception through December 2023 and updated in February 2024. Search terms included laminoplasty, laminectomy, C3 and degenerative cervical spondylosis. The literature search yielded 14 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Outcomes included radiographic results, neck pain, neurologic function, surgical parameters, and postoperative complications. We also assessed methodologic quality, publication bias, and quality of evidence.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were identified, including 590 patients who underwent LP combined with C3 LN (modified group, MG) compared to 669 patients who underwent LP (traditional group, TG). The results of the study indicated a statistically significant improvement in cervical range of motion (WMD = 3.62, 95% CI: 0.39 to 6.85) and cervical sagittal angle (WMD = 2.07, 95% CI: 0.40 to 3.74) in the MG compared to the TG at the last follow-up (very low-level evidence). The TG had a higher number of patients with complications, especially C2-3 bone fusion. There was no significant difference found in improvement of neck pain, JOA, NDI, cSVA, T1 slope at latest follow-up.

CONCLUSION

LP combined with C3 LN is an effective and necessary surgical method for multilevel DCM patients to maintain cervical sagittal balance. However, due to the low quality of evidence in existing studies, more and higher quality research on the technology is needed in the future.

Determinants of quality of life in degenerative cervical myelopathy: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of chronic, progressive spinal cord impairment worldwide. Patients experience substantial pain, functional neurological decline and disability. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) appears to be particularly poor, even when compared to other chronic diseases. However, the determinants of HRQoL are poorly understood. The objective was to perform a systematic review of the determinants of quality of life of people with DCM.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE and Embase following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42018115675). Full-text papers in English, exclusively studying DCM, published before 26 March 2020 were eligible for inclusion and were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool. Study sample characteristics, patient demographics, cohort type, HRQoL instrument utilised, HRQoL score, and relationships of HRQoL with other variables were qualitatively synthesised.

RESULTS

A total of 1176 papers were identified; 77 papers and 13,572 patients were included in the final analysis. A total of 96% of papers studied surgical cohorts and 86% utilised the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) as a measure of HRQoL. HRQoL determinants were grouped into nine themes. The most common determinant to be assessed was surgical technique (38/77, 49%) and patient satisfaction and experience of pain (10/77, 13%). HRQoL appeared to improve after surgery. Pain was a negative predictor of HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Current data on the determinants of HRQoL in DCM are limited, contradictory and heterogeneous. Limitations of this systematic review include lack of distinction between DCM subtypes and heterogenous findings amongst the papers in which HRQoL is measured postoperatively or post-diagnosis. This highlights the need for greater standardisation in DCM research to allow further synthesis. Studies of greater precision are necessary to account for HRQoL being complex, multi-factorial and both time and context dependent.

Cervical Myelopathy: An Update on Posterior Decompression

STUDY DESIGN

This was a narrative review.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to discuss current methods and review updated outcome studies regarding posterior decompression in the management of cervical myelopathy.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Progressive myelopathy in the cervical segments is an indication for urgent surgical management. Although nonoperative treatment is an option in mild to moderate cases, the majority of patients will experience deterioration in neurological function requiring surgical decompression.

METHODS

A review of the literature was performed using PubMed to provide updated information regarding posterior cervical decompression in the management of myelopathy.

RESULTS

There are numerous studies comparing outcome data between cervical laminectomy and fusion with laminoplasty. While each technique has advantages and disadvantages, both provide adequate decompression and good long-term outcomes in patients meeting appropriate criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior decompression is an important approach for spine surgeons to have in their toolkits when treating cervical myelopathy.

Posterior Surgical Techniques for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Objective

This study was conducted to determine and recommend the most up-to-date information on the indications, complications, and outcomes of posterior surgical treatments for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) on the basis of a literature review.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed, using the MEDLINE (PubMed), the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science databases, for peer-reviewed articles published in English during the last 10 years.

Results

Posterior techniques, which include laminectomy alone, laminectomy with fusion, and laminoplasty, are often used in patients with involvement of 3 or more levels. Posterior decompression for CSM is effective for improving patients’ neurological function. Complications resulting from posterior cervical spine surgery include injury to the spinal cord and nerve roots, complications related to posterior screw fixation or instrumentation, C5 palsy, spring-back closure of lamina, and postlaminectomy kyphosis.

Conclusion

It is necessary to consider multiple factors when deciding on the appropriate operation for a particular patient. Surgeons need to tailor preoperative discussions to ensure that patients are aware of these facts. Further research is needed on the cost-to-benefit analysis of various surgical approaches, the comparative efficacy of surgical approaches using various techniques, and long-term outcomes, as current knowledge is deficient in this regard.

Anterior and Posterior Approaches for Cervical Myelopathy: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify advantages and disadvantages of the anterior and posterior approaches in the treatment of cervical stenosis and myelopathy.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Both anterior and posterior surgical approaches for cervical stenosis and myelopathy have been shown to result in improvement in health-related outcomes. Despite the evidence, controversy remains regarding the best approach to achieve decompression and correct deformity.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with cervical stenosis and myelopathy who had undergone anterior cervical fusion and instrumentation (n = 38) or posterior cervical laminectomy and instrumentation (n = 51) with at least 6 months of follow-up. Plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography scans, as well as health-related outcomes, including Visual Analog Scale for neck pain, Japanese Orthopedic Association score for myelopathy, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form-36 Health Survey, were collated before surgery and at follow-up (median 12.0 and 12.1 months for anterior and posterior group, respectively).

RESULTS

Both anterior and posterior approaches were associated with significant improvements in all studied quality of life parameters with the exception of general health in the anterior group and energy and fatigue in the posterior group. In the anterior group, follow-up assessment revealed a significant increase in C2-7 lordosis. Both approaches were accompanied by significant increases in C2-7 sagittal balance [sagittal vertical axis (SVA)]. There were two complications in the anterior group and nine complications in the posterior group; the incidence of complications between the two groups was not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

When the benefits of one approach over the other are not self-evident, the anterior approach is recommended, as it was associated with a shorter hospital stay and more successful restoration of cervical lordosis than posterior surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.