• Sven O Eicker, Mark Klingenhöfer, Walter Stummer, Hans-Jakob Steiger, and Daniel Hänggi.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. eicker.s@mac.com
• Eur Spine J. 2012 Dec 1; 21 (12): 248724912487-91.

PurposeCervical spondylotic myelopathy is a multifactorial disease that is directly correlated by the degree of spinal stenosis. Surgery remains the best therapy. A posterior approach is often recommended in patients with multilevel dorsal cervical compression. Aim of the present experimental study was to evaluate the feasibility of a full-endoscopic arcocristectomy in a cadaver study.MethodsWe performed full-endoscopic arcocristectomy on ten formalin-fixed human cervical specimens. Before and after decompression we obtained high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) data to evaluate the diameter of the cervical spinal canal.ResultsOverall, surgery was possible on 55 segments in ten cadaver specimens. A mean increase of 4.1 mm (±1.2 mm) in the sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal could be achieved (p < 0.05, t test).ConclusionsThe full-endoscopic arcrocristectomy is feasible and achieves a sufficient decompression. This minimal invasive technique protects most of the dorsal structures and therefore probably preserves biomechanical functions, which has to be proven in future studies.

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