title: Microsurgical anterior cervical foraminotomy (uncinatectomy) for cervical disc herniation. Report of three cases.
abstract: The authors present the long-term follow-up results in three cases in which pure lateral disc herniations were surgically treated via an anterior foraminotomy (uncinatectomy) that avoided entering the disc space. The pertinent anatomical details essential for a safe approach are discussed in light of nine cadaveric neck dissections of every segment between C-1 and C-7. The surgical technique was initially studied in the cadaveric specimens and then applied in patients. The long-term results (> 2 years) in the first three patients are as good as our short-term results in another eight cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara University, Turkey.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Taşçioğlu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taşçioğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged