Factors associated with cervical instability requiring fusion after cervical laminectomy for intradural tumor resection.
OBJECTIVE
The indications remain unclear for fusion at the time of cervical laminectomy for intradural tumor resection. To identify patients who may benefit from initial fusion, the authors assessed clinical, radiological/imaging, and operative factors associated with subsequent symptomatic cervical instability requiring fusion after cervical laminectomy for intradural tumor resection.


METHODS
The authors reviewed 10 years of data obtained in patients who underwent cervical laminectomy without fusion for intradural tumor resection and who had normal spinal stability and alignment preoperatively. The association of pre- and intraoperative variables with the subsequent need for fusion for progressive symptomatic cervical instability was assessed using logistic regression analysis, and percentages were compared using Fisher exact tests when appropriate.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients (mean age 41 +/- 17 years) underwent cervical laminectomy without fusion for resection of an intradural tumor (18 intramedullary and 14 extramedullary). Each increasing number of laminectomies performed was associated with a 3.1-fold increase in the likelihood of subsequent vertebral instability (odds ratio 3.114, 95% confidence interval 1.207-8.034, p = 0.02). At a mean follow-up interval of 25.2 months, 33% (4 of 12) of the patients who had undergone a >or= 3-level laminectomy required subsequent fusion compared with 5% (1 of 20) who had undergone a <or= 2-level laminectomy (p = 0.03). Four (36%) of 11 patients initially presenting with myelopathic motor disturbance required subsequent fusion compared with 1 (5%) of 21 presenting initially with myelopathic sensory or radicular symptoms (p = 0.02). Age, the presence of a syrinx, intramedullary tumor, C-2 laminectomy, C-7 laminectomy, and laminoplasty were not associated with subsequent symptomatic instability requiring fusion.


CONCLUSIONS
In the authors' experience with intradural cervical tumor resection, patients presenting with myelopathic motor symptoms or those undergoing a >or= 3-level cervical laminectomy had an increased likelihood of developing subsequent symptomatic instability requiring fusion. A >or= 3-level laminectomy with myelopathic motor symptoms may herald patients most likely to benefit from cervical fusion at the time of tumor resection.
Sciubba
Daniel M
DM
Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. dsciubb1@jhmi.edu
Chaichana
Kaisorn L
KL
Woodworth
Graeme F
GF
McGirt
Matthew J
MJ
Gokaslan
Ziya L
ZL
Jallo
George I
GI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery