• Sarita van Geest, Anouk M J de Vormer, Mark P Arts, Wilco C Peul, and Carmen L A Vleggeert-Lankamp.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands, svangeest@lumc.nl.
• Eur Spine J. 2015 Apr 1; 24 Suppl 2: 229-35.

PurposeTo evaluate long-term clinical and radiological results of cervical laminectomy without adjuvant-instrumented fusion for degenerative spinal cord compression.MethodsA retrospective follow-up study of patients in which clinical data (n = 207), questionnaires (n = 96) and fluoroscopy (n = 77) were reviewed.ResultsPostoperative perceived recovery was reported by 76 and 63 % of patients at 3 months and 9 years, respectively. Functional status remained unchanged. The incidence of kyphosis and segmental instability was 15 and 18 %, respectively, and occurred almost exclusively if preoperative lordosis was <20°. Neither kyphosis nor segmental instability correlated to perceived recovery and no predisposing variables were identified.ConclusionsCervical laminectomy without adjuvant-instrumented fusion should be considered as a treatment for compressive degenerative cervical myelopathy in patients with a lordotic cervical spine without congenital deformities. Additional reconstructive correction of the cervical spine is only proven appropriate in selected cases.

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