OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of one stage or staging treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy through combined posterior and anterior approaches.

METHODSFrom June 2001 to October 2008, 45 patients with pinching cervical spondylotic myelopathy and developmental stenosis of cervical spinal canal were decompressed through combined posterior and anterior approaches in one stage or staging operation. Among the patients, 35 patients were male and 10 patients were female, ranging in age from 45 to 72 years, with an average of 53 years. Five patients were decompressed through combined posterior and anterior approaches in one-stage operation, and other 40 patients were treated in staging operation. All the patients were treated with open-door posterior cervical expansive laminoplasty and anterior decompression, bone graft and titanium plate internal fixation. JOA scores were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects at the 3rd month and one year after operation.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, 44 patients were followed up from 13 to 62 months, with an average of 30 months. One patient was dead of lung infection at the 21th day after operation. The nerve root palsy of C5 was found in 3 cases. One patient had postoperative hoarseness. Axial symptoms were found in 14 cases. Two patients had donor site complications. There were no screws broken or back out, no screw loosening, no moving or sinking of bone block or Ti-net, no door re-closer and cervical deformity. Forty-four patients got spinal fusion. According to JOA score criteria: the average preoperative JOA score was (9.36 +/- 2.24) points, JOA score was (12.34 +/- 2.64) points in 3 months after operation, (12.77 +/- 2.61) points in one year after operation. Among 44 cases, 16 got an excellent result, 19 good, 6 fair, 3 invalid. There were statistically differences between preoperative score and 3 months or one year after operation.

CONCLUSIONDecompression through combined posterior and anterior approaches for the treatment of pinching cervical spondyoltic myelopathy and developmental stenosis of cervical spinal canal has good efficacy, as well as a safety operation method. The operation method with one or staging decompression through combined anterior and posterior approach should be chosen according to the conditions of the patients and the operations. Anterior decompression, bone graft and titanium plate internal fixation could restore the height of vertebral body effectively and prevent fusion complication.