OBJECTIVETo explore clinical effects of multi-segmental cervical spondylosis myelopathy through anterior approach by surgical treatment.

METHODSFrom September 2006 to September 2012, the data of 85 patients with multi segmental cervical spondylosis myelopathy were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 48 cases were male, 37 cases were female, ranging the age from 34 to 86 years old (mean, 54.5 years old). Surgical procedure included anterior discectomy and fusion (19 cases), anterior secondary discectomy and fusion (45 cases) and anterior discectomy combined with anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (21 cases). Bone fusion were evaluated by X-ray at the 3rd day after operation and following up. JOA score and improvement rate were compared.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 6 to 30 months with an average of 18 months. Decompression were done throughly during operation and good intervertebral space height and cervical curvature were obtained. X-ray showed nonunion in 3 cases, and improvement rate was 96%. JOA score after operation was higher than before operation, and had significant differences (P < 0.05). Fifty-six cases got excellent results, 16 moderate, 9 effective and 4 invalid according to JOA scores.

CONCLUSIONSurgical procedures for cervical spondylosis myelopathy should be chosen reasonably in accordance with sympotoms, signs, imaging data, so as to obtain good results in decompression, recoving intervertebral height and cervical curature, improving fusion rate.