OBJECTIVETo study the change trend of cervical range of motion(ROM) after single-level anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion(ACCF) in treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 23 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy was retrospectively analyzed from February 2015 to April 2016. There were 11 males and 12 females, with an average age of (54.6±13.3) years. All the patients were diagnosed as cervical spondylotic myelopathy by interrogation, physical examination and radiology, and were treated by ACCF. The Coda motion system was applied to assess the cervical range of motion pre-and post-operation. JOA and VAS scores were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up time was (9.4±1.6) months. Cervical ROM in all directions at 3 months postoperatively were significantly lower except for the left rotation(<0.05). There was significant difference of cervical ROM in all directions between preoperative and 6 months postoperatively(>0.05). The right lateral bending and the left rotation at 9 months postoperatively increased significantly(<0.05). Postoperative extension at 6 months was significantly better than that of 3 months postoperatively(<0.05). The extension, left and right lateral bending and left rotation at 9 months postoperatively were significantly better than of 6 months postoperatively(<0.05). Postoperative JOA scores at each time points were significantly higher than that of preoperative(<0.05) and VAS scores at each time points were significantly lower than that of preoperative(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe change trend of three-dimensional cervical ROM after single-level ACCF revealed that the ROM decreased in short term, and later increased and was better than the preoperative level. Meanwhile, the neurological function improved significantly. But the short-term and long-term change trend of ROM postoperatively and the change trend of ROM after multi-level ACCF need to be further studied.