• Kazunari Takeuchi, Toru Yokoyama, Atsushi Ono, Takuya Numasawa, Kanichiro Wada, Gentaro Kumagai, Junji Ito, Kazumasa Ueyama, and Satoshi Toh.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan. naritake03@ybb.ne.jp
• J Spinal Disord Tech. 2007 Dec 1;20(8):571-6.

Study DesignA radiographic study in 111 patients using radiographs was conducted.ObjectiveTo clarify whether the modified laminoplasty with C3 laminectomy preserving the semispinalis cervicis (SSC) inserted into C2 could maintain the postopertive range of motion (ROM) and sagittal alignment compared with conventional C3-C7 laminoplasty reattaching the muscle to C2.Summary Of Background DataIntraoperative injury of the SSC is relevant to the significant loss of ROM and the malalignment after laminoplasty. To expose the C3 lamina, however, the SSC inserted into C2 could not be preserved in conventional C3-C7 laminoplasty.MethodsThe ROM and sagittal alignment of 70 patients (group A) (52 men, 18 women, mean age 59 y, mean follow-up period 1 y and 7 mo) with C4-C7 laminoplasty with C3 laminectomy were compared with those of 41 patients (group B) (28 men, 13 women, mean age 59 y, mean follow-up period 2 y and 6 mo) with C3-C7 laminoplasty using radiographs of the cervical spine.ResultsRegarding C2-C7 ROM, the postoperative ROM was larger (P=0.003) and the decrease rate of ROM was smaller (P=0.0006), and decreased ROM in extension was smaller (P<0.0001) in group A. Regarding O-C2 ROM, the increased ROM was smaller (P=0.043) and increased ROM in extension was smaller (P=0.001) in group A. Regarding O-C7 ROM, the postoperative ROM was larger (P=0.029) in group A. Regarding the cervical alignment, the increased lordotic angle at O-C2 was smaller (P=0.046) in group A.ConclusionsThis modified laminoplasty preserving the SSC inserted into C2 is an effective procedure for maintaining postoperative ROM, especially in extension, and sagittal alignment of the upper cervical spine well.

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