Techniques in cervical laminoplasty.
BACKGROUND
Laminoplasty provides an alternative to anterior procedures or multilevel laminectomy for patients with multilevel spinal stenosis and myeloradiculopathy.


OBJECTIVE
To review the techniques, results and complications of cervical laminoplasty.


METHODS
The three basic variations of laminoplasty are the single open door, the French door or midline and the Z-plasty technique. These techniques and their outcome are discussed in detail.


RESULTS
The recovery rate after laminoplasty ranges from 50% to 70% without statistical superiority of any one technique over another. Closure of opened laminae, temporary nerve root deficit, decreased neck range of motion and axial pain are the main complications of laminoplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
Good to excellent long-term clinical results can be expected for the appropriately selected patients regardless of the specific technique used.
William Beaumont Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 3535 West Thirteen Mile Road, Suite 604, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.
Chetan K
CK
Patel
Benjamin J
BJ
Cunningham
Harry N
HN
Herkowitz
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D016896:Treatment Outcome