Surgery for myelopathy in cervical spondylosis: safety measures and preoperative factors related to outcome.
In 85 patients with myelopathy and cervical spondylosis, Queckenstedt's test was used as a guide in deciding upon laminectomy under local anesthesia or anterior surgery under general anesthesia. Laminectomy was carried out in patients with marked block phenomena. The operations were laminectomy (51), anterior surgery (24), and laminectomy plus anterior surgery (10). None of the patients was made worse as a result of the surgical procedure. Improvement in the legs occurred in 73 patients. Block phenomena and arm symptoms were preoperative factors related to improvement in the legs after surgery. Improvement in the arms occurred in 63 of 73 patients who had such symptoms.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001132:Arm; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D010146:Pain; D011312:Pressure; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012449:Safety; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications*