title: Recapping hemilaminoplasty for spinal surgical disorders using ultrasonic bone curette.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors present a novel method of the recapping hemilaminoplasty in a retrospective study of patients with spinal surgical disorders. This report describes the surgical technique and the results of hemilaminoplasty using an ultrasonic bone curette. The aim of this study was to examine the safety and effectiveness of the hemilaminoplasty technique with ultrasonic bone curette.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2003 and July 2011, 33 patients with various spinal diseases (17 spinal tumors, 5 dural arteriovenous fistulas, 3 syringomyelia, 2 sacral perineural cysts, and 2 arachnoid cysts) were treated microsurgically by using an ultrasonic bone curette with scalpel blade and lightweight handpiece. The ultrasonic bone curette was used for division of lamina. After resection of the lesion, the excised lamina was replaced exactly in situ to its original anatomic position with a titanium plate and screw. Additional fusion technique was not required and the device was easy to handle. All patients were observed both neurologically and radiologically by dynamic plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operation was performed successfully and there were no instrument-related complications such as dural laceration, nerve root injury, and vessels injury. The mean number of resected and restored lamina was 1.7. CT confirmed primary bone fusion in all patients by 12 months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultrasonic bone curette is a useful instrument for recapping hemilaminoplasty in various spinal surgeries. This method allows anatomical reconstruction of the excised bone to preserve the posterior surrounding tissues.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Southern TOHOKU General Hospital, Southern TOHOKU Research Institute for Neuroscience, Japan.
authors: Hidenori
authors: H
authors: Matsuoka
authors: Yasunobu
authors: Y
authors: Itoh
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Numazawa
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Tomii
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Watanabe
authors: Yoshitaka
authors: Y
authors: Hirano
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nakagawa