European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Between 2006 and 2010, we performed wide laminectomy (wide LAM) alone, with decompression performed between the bilateral medial margin of the zygapophyseal joints, or double-door laminoplasty (DL) combined with wide LAM for cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM). From 2010, instead of wide LAM and DL, we began to perform narrow LAM, where the laminectomy width was no more than 2-3 mm wider than the spinal cord width (SW). This study aimed to elucidate the risk factors for C5 palsy by reviewing surgical outcomes. ⋯ Cervical laminectomy of limited width prevented postoperative C5 palsy without compromising the functional recovery.