OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of titanium miniplate in cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty in treating cervical spondylosis.

METHODSFrom February 2009 to April 2011, 16 patients underwent expansive open-door laminoplasty by titanium miniplate fixation were classified as group A; 18 patients with conventional unilaterally open-door laminoplasty from March 2007 to January 2009 were served as control (group B). The operative time, blood loss during the operations, JOA score of the 6 months after operation, the incidence of axial symptom, curvature of cervical vertebrae were compared respectively between the two groups.

RESULTSOperative time, blood loss, improvement rate of JOA in group A were respectively (122.0 +/- 26.8) min, (153.0 +/- 46.7) ml, (59.4 +/- 11.6)%; and in group B were (119.0 +/- 28.6) min, (151.0 +/- 50.4) ml, (58.7 +/- 12.7)%. Those showed no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). Three cases (18.75%) occurred obviously axial symptom in group A and six cases (33.33%) occurred in group B, there was significant difference in the incidence of axial symptom between two groups (P < 0.01). Preoperative and postoperative curvature of cervical vertebrae in group A was (17.9 +/- 5.2) degrees and (18.2 +/- 4.8) degrees, without significant difference; in group B, postoperative curvature of cervical vertebrae decreased obviously than the preoperative [(16.3 +/- 5.9) degrees vs (18.1 +/- 6.3) degrees] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth surgical protocols are effective on preventing reclose of opened laminae, moreover the modified laminoplasty is advanced on reducing the occurrence of axial symptoms and loss of cervical curvature.