Cervical curvature after laminoplasty for spondylotic myelopathy--involvement of yellow ligament, semispinalis cervicis muscle, and nuchal ligament.
To assess the consequences of cervical laminoplasty on postoperative lordosis, a retrospective radiographic analysis of 31 patients undergoing laminoplasty for spondylotic myelopathy was completed. Special attention was paid to lordotic changes occurring at each level over more than 2 years. Preoperative lordosis remained unchanged with the patients wearing a cervical orthosis 1 week postoperatively. However the lordosis subsequently demonstrated a significant decrease in 87% of patients over an average of 3.1 years. Lordotic alignment at C2-C3 and C6-C7 before surgery significantly decreased in 81% and 58% of patients 1 week postoperatively, and 84% and 81% at last follow up, respectively, while lordotic alignment at other levels pre- and postoperatively did not significantly change. Loss of lordotic alignment was largely attributed to detachment of semispinalis cervicis muscle on C2 and nuchal ligament on C6/C7 with a posterior approach and/or section of yellow ligament at C2-C3.
Sasai
K
K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Saito
T
T
Akagi
S
S
Kato
I
I
Ogawa
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*