title: Minimally invasive cervical microendoscopic laminoforaminotomy.
abstract: Spine surgery has seen parallel interest and development in the areas of motion preservation and minimally invasive surgery. Posterior microendoscopic laminoforaminotomy (MELF) allows for neural decompression while maintaining motion via a minimally invasive approach. This technique shares the advantage of maintenance of motion with arthroplasty, but without the need for instrumentation. Therefore, the procedure is motion preserving, minimally invasive and cost-effective. The ideal indications for posterior MELF include unilateral radiculopathy secondary to "hard disc" or spondylosis, as well as soft disc herniations. The authors present a modified surgical technique for posterior MELF as well as a case study illustrating its synergy with anterior arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, Charlotte, North Carolina 28207, USA. dom@cnsa.com
authors.forename: Domagoj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coric
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adamson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery