OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects and significances of a cervical anterior Hybrid technique with posterior longitudinal ligament retained in treating cervical spondylosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 138 patients with cervical spondylosis underwent cervical anterior Hybrid surgery were retrospectively analyzed from March 2009 to March 2013. There were 52 males and 86 females,the age ranged from 36 to 58 years old with an average of 45.3 years. Course of disease was from 3 to 16 months. Cervical spondylosis classification included 22 cases with nerve root type, 68 cases with myelopathic type, 48 cases with mixed type. All patients were treated with the primary Hybrid surgery and their cervical posterior longitudinal ligaments were retained in anterior decompression. JOA score and image examination were used to evaluate clinical effect, and image examination included range of motion of the replacement segment, range of motion of the whole cervical spine, the sagittal diameter of the spinal cord before and after operation.

RESULTSAll operations were successful and operation time was 60 to 125 min (averaged 90.6 min), perioperative bleeding was 10 to 60 ml (averaged 30.1 ml). All patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of 22.2 months. All pathological segments obtained fully decompression, reserved posterior longitudinal ligament had no obvious hypertrophy, proliferation and calcification. The prosthesis had good location and the incision healed well without complications. Upper limbs root symptoms were completely relieved in the patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, muscle strengths and sensations got different recovery in the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. JOA score was increased from preoperative 8.62±1.22 to final follow-up 14.26±1.47 (P<0.05). Artificial intervertebral discs were stabilized in the patients, the replacement segment and range of motion of whole cervical spine were respectively (14.2± 5.6)° and (33.8±10.3)°, there was no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05). Spinal cord sagittal diameter was increased from preoperative (5.2±1.3) mm to postoperative (8.8±0.5) mm (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnterior cervical Hybrid surgery with posterior longitudinal ligament retained can achieve fully decompression and good clinical efficacy, we recommend retaining the normal posterior longitudinal ligament in surgery as complete as possible.