title: Clinical feasibility of minimally invasive cervical laminoplasty.
abstract: Minimally invasive approaches to the cervical spine for lateral disc herniation or foraminal stenosis have recently been described. Lower rates of blood loss, decreased narcotic dependence, and less tissue destruction as well as shorter hospital stays are all advantages of utilizing these techniques. These observations can also be realized with a minimal access approach to cervical laminoplasty. Multiple levels of the cervical spine can be treated from a posterior approach with the potential to decrease the incidences of postoperative axial neck pain and kyphotic deformity. In this report the authors present a concise history of the open laminoplasty technique, provide data from previous cadaveric studies (6 cases) along with recent clinical experience for minimally invasive laminoplasty, and describe the advantages and challenges of this novel procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Benglis
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery