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Anterior and Posterior Approaches for Cervical Myelopathy: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Anterior and Posterior Approaches for Cervical Myelopathy: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes

Patrick W Hitchon, Royce W Woodroffe, Jennifer A Noeller, Logan Helland, Nataliya Hramakova and Kirill V Nourski
Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976), Vol.44(9), pp.615-623
05/01/2019
DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002912
PMID: 30724826

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Abstract

A retrospective cohort study. The aim of this study was to identify advantages and disadvantages of the anterior and posterior approaches in the treatment of cervical stenosis and myelopathy. Both anterior and posterior surgical approaches for cervical stenosis and myelopathy have been shown to result in improvement in health-related outcomes. Despite the evidence, controversy remains regarding the best approach to achieve decompression and correct deformity. We retrospectively reviewed patients with cervical stenosis and myelopathy who had undergone anterior cervical fusion and instrumentation (n = 38) or posterior cervical laminectomy and instrumentation (n = 51) with at least 6 months of follow-up. Plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography scans, as well as health-related outcomes, including Visual Analog Scale for neck pain, Japanese Orthopedic Association score for myelopathy, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form-36 Health Survey, were collated before surgery and at follow-up (median 12.0 and 12.1 months for anterior and posterior group, respectively). Both anterior and posterior approaches were associated with significant improvements in all studied quality of life parameters with the exception of general health in the anterior group and energy and fatigue in the posterior group. In the anterior group, follow-up assessment revealed a significant increase in C2-7 lordosis. Both approaches were accompanied by significant increases in C2-7 sagittal balance [sagittal vertical axis (SVA)]. There were two complications in the anterior group and nine complications in the posterior group; the incidence of complications between the two groups was not significantly different. When the benefits of one approach over the other are not self-evident, the anterior approach is recommended, as it was associated with a shorter hospital stay and more successful restoration of cervical lordosis than posterior surgery. 3.
Spinal Fusion - methods Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging Humans Spinal Fusion - statistics & numerical data Laminectomy - statistics & numerical data Treatment Outcome Spinal Fusion - adverse effects Spinal Cord Diseases - surgery Radiography Cervical Vertebrae - surgery Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laminectomy - adverse effects Quality of Life Laminectomy - methods Retrospective Studies Postoperative Complications Spinal Cord Diseases - diagnostic imaging

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