title: Posterior surgery for cervical myelopathy: indications, techniques, and outcomes.
abstract: This article details the controversies associated with the different treatment strategies in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The natural history, incidence, pathophysiology, physical examination, and imaging findings are discussed followed by the indications, techniques, and outcomes of patients treated with posterior cervical decompression via decompressive laminectomy, laminectomy and instrumented fusion, and laminoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA. brandon.lawrence@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Brandon D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Darrel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brodke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D056888:Patient Positioning; D018579:Patient Selection; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome