Clinical Results of Microsurgical Anterior Foraminotomy for Cervical Radiculopathy.
- Author:
Dae Hoon PARK
1
;
Ki Young RYU
;
Kyung Sik SEOK
;
Dong Gee KANG
;
Sang Chul KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neurosurgery, Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea. blue203040@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cevical radiculopathy;
Anterior foraminotomy;
Radiologic outcomes
- MeSH:
Foraminotomy*;
Humans;
Kyphosis;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Osteophyte;
Radiculopathy*;
Spine
- From:Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
2003;34(2):125-129
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The authors present the clinical and radiologic outcomes of microsurgical anterior foraminotomy in 36 cases of cervival radiculopathy. METHODS: Thirty-six patients were treated with anterior cervical foraminotomy between January 1998 and June 2002. There were 13 men and 23 women(age range, 34-74 years). Twenty-nine had symptomatic soft disc herniation and 7 had uncovertebral osteophytes confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Thirty-one patients had single anterior cervical microforaminotomy and five had procedures at adjacent levels. RESULTS: Good or excellent result were obtained in 75% of the patients. On roentgenographic examination, the height of intervertebral space was maintained at twenty-one levels(51%) and was decreased at seventeen levels(42%). Two patients who underwent anterior cervical microforaminotomy developed kyphosis of the cervical spine and one patient developed instability of the cervical spine. CONCLUSION: Anterior cervical foraminotomy appears to be a good alternative procedure for carefully selected patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy and avoids a fusion of the disc space.