title: Effect of preservation of the C-6 spinous process and its paraspinal muscular attachment on the prevention of postoperative axial neck pain in C3-6 laminoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Axial neck pain after C3-6 laminoplasty has been reported to be significantly lesser than that after C3-7 laminoplasty because of the preservation of the C-7 spinous process and the attachment of nuchal muscles such as the trapezius and rhomboideus minor, which are connected to the scapula. The C-6 spinous process is the second longest spinous process after that of C-7, and it serves as an attachment point for these muscles. The effect of preserving the C-6 spinous process and its muscular attachment, in addition to preservation of the C-7 spinous process, on the prevention of axial neck pain is not well understood. The purpose of the current study was to clarify whether preservation of the paraspinal muscles of the C-6 spinous process reduces postoperative axial neck pain compared to that after using nonpreservation techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors studied 60 patients who underwent C3-6 double-door laminoplasty for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy or cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament; the minimum follow-up period was 1 year. Twenty-five patients underwent a C-6 paraspinal muscle preservation technique, and 35 underwent a C-6 nonpreservation technique. A visual analog scale (VAS) and VAS grading (Grades I-IV) were used to assess axial neck pain 1-3 months after surgery and at the final follow-up examination. Axial neck pain was classified as being 1 of 5 types, and its location was divided into 5 areas. The potential correlation between the C-6/C-7 spinous process length ratio and axial neck pain was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VAS scores (± SD) for axial neck pain were comparable between the C6-preservation group and the C6-nonpreservation group in both the early and late postoperative stages (4.1 ± 3.1 vs 4.0 ± 3.2 and 3.8 ± 2.9 vs 3.6 ± 3.0, respectively). The distribution of VAS grades was comparable in the 2 groups in both postoperative stages. Stiffness was the most prevalent complaint in both groups (64.0% and 54.5%, respectively), and the suprascapular region was the most common site in both groups (60.0% and 57.1%, respectively). The types and locations of axial neck pain were also similar between the groups. The C-6/C-7 spinous process length ratios were similar in the groups, and they did not correlate with axial neck pain. The reductions of range of motion and changes in sagittal alignment after surgery were also similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C-6 paraspinal muscle preservation technique was not superior to the C6-nonpreservation technique for preventing postoperative axial neck pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueta
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yugué
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiba
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D065406:Laminoplasty / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CSM = cervical spondylotic myelopathy; JOA = Japanese Orthopaedic Association; OPLL = ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament; ROM = range of motion; VAS = visual analog scale; axial neck pain; cervical spine; laminoplasty; paraspinal muscle; spinous process; trapezius muscle