Clinical and radiological outcomes in 153 patients undergoing oblique corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chacko, Ari G.; Turel, Mazda K.; Sarkar, Sauradeep; Prabhu, Krishna; Daniel, Roy T.
• Is Part Of: British journal of neurosurgery. Volume 28:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.3109/02688697.2013.815326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-8697

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective.</italic> To document the clinical and radiological outcomes in a large series of patients undergoing the oblique cervical corpectomy (OCC) for spondylotic myelopathy. <italic>Materials and methods.</italic> We retrospectively analyzed our series of 153 patients undergoing OCC for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) over the last 10 years. A mean clinical follow-up of 3 years was obtained in 125 patients (81.7%), while 117 patients (76.5%) were followed up radiologically. Neurological function was measured by the Nurick grade and the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA). Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance images (MRI) were reviewed. <italic>Results.</italic> Ninety-two percent were men with a mean age of 51 years and a mean duration of symptoms of 18 months. Sixty-one had a single level corpectomy, 66 had a 2-level, 24 had a 3-level, and two had a 4-level OCC. There was statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in both the Nurick grade and the JOA score at mean follow-up of 34.6 ± 25.4 months. Permanent Horner's syndrome was seen in nine patients (5.9%), postoperative C5 radiculopathy in five patients (3.3%), dural tear with CSF leak in one patient (0.7%), and vertebral artery injury in one patient (0.7%). Of the 117 patients who were followed up radiologically, five patients (4.3%) developed an asymptomatic kyphosis of the cervical spine while 22 patients (25.6%) with preoperative lordotic spines had a straightening of the whole spine curvature. <italic>Conclusions.</italic> The OCC is a safe procedure with good outcomes and a low morbidity for treating cervical cord compression due to CSM. This procedure avoids graft-related complications associated with the central corpectomy, but is technically demanding.</p> </abstract>