Does developmental canal stenosis influence surgical results of bilateral open-door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy?

• DOI: 10.3171/spi.2008.9.10.358
• Publication Date: 2011-02-23T21:38:43Z
• Authors: Hideki Shigematsu; Yurito Ueda; Munehisa Koizumi; Toshichika Takeshima; Yasuhito Tanaka; Nobuhisa Satoh; Hiroaki Matsumori; Takuya Oshima; Etsuhiro Matsuyama; Atsuo Kugai; Yoshinori Takakura
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Laminectomy; Recovery of Function; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Cohort Studies; Spinal Osteophytosis; 03 medical and health sciences; Spinal Stenosis; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Cervical Vertebrae; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Aged; Retrospective Studies

ObjectThe purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of developmental canal stenosis in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and the correlation between surgical results and degree of developmental canal stenosis.MethodsA total of 112 patients who eventually had surgical treatment for CSM were evaluated. Male patients whose sagittal spinal diameter was < 14 mm and females whose sagittal diameter was < 13 mm even at one level were classified as having developmental canal stenosis. Two groups of patients were used in this study; the “positive” group (57 cases) included patients with developmental canal stenosis preoperatively, whereas the “negative” group (55 cases) excluded such patients. Lateral functional radiographs obtained in patients in the 2 groups were compared for range of motion and clinical results.ResultsDevelopmental canal stenosis was found in 50.9% of all cases. Based on clinical results, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups.ConclusionsPatients with CSM showed a high incidence of preoperative developmental canal stenosis. However, there were no significant differences in clinical results between patients with and without this disorder. These results indicate that developmental canal stenosis is not a factor that influences surgical results.