OBJECTIVETo assess the influence of different hinge positions on clinical results of expansive open-door laminoplasty (EOLP) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

METHODSA total of 102 CSM patients who underwent EOLP from February 2006 to February 2007 were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Using a random digits table, 57 patients with the hinge located at the inner margin of the lateral mass were classified as wide-open group, while 45 patients with the hinge positioned at the lamina margin served as narrow-open group. All patients were observed over 24 months, and the clinical and radiological results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in operation duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, cervical curvature index, range of motion and neural function recovery rate. The neural functions were satisfactorily improved after surgery in both groups, while the severity of axial symptoms was significantly lower in the narrow-open group than in the wide-open group (P equal to 0.003). The incidence of C(5) palsy in the wide-open group was higher than that in the narrow-open group (5.3% vs 0), even though the difference did not reach statistical significance (one tailed Fisher's exact test, P equal to 0.17).

CONCLUSIONSProper inward shift of the hinge can ensure effectiveness of surgical decompression, avoid an excessive backward shift of the spinal cord, decrease the incidence of C(5) palsy and alleviate the severity of axial symptoms.