• Luay Şerifoğlu and Mustafa Umut Etli.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: luaybeyin@gmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Apr 1; 184: e384e389e384-e389.

BackgroundCervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a prevalent cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults, primarily from degenerative changes. The efficacy of treatment strategies, especially surgical approaches, remains debated.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the long-term impact of posterior fusion laminectomy on the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) thickness, disc complex, and myelomalacia signal changes in CSM patients.MethodsA single-centre, prospective study from January 2020 to December 2021 included CSM patients without ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from baseline, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were collected. Measurements on the MRI were performed using the Osirix MD software, focusing on the PLL width, myelopathic foci dimensions, and canal diameter.ResultsOut of the 82 initially enrolled patients, 64 were considered for analysis. Postoperatively, a significant reduction in PLL width and myelopathic foci dimensions was observed, alongside a considerable increase in the canal diameter. Clinical outcomes based on the Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale also showcased marked improvements post-surgery.ConclusionsPosterior fusion laminectomy effectively reduces anterior pressure in CSM patients. This treatment may represent an optimal surgical approach for selected CSM cases. Furthermore, more extensive studies with extended follow-up are advocated.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

32 keywords...

hide…