title: [Segmental anterior cervical decompression with fusion for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore effectiveness and safety of segmental anterior cervical decompression in treating multi-level cervical myelopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with four levels of cervical myelopathy were treated with segmental anterior cervical decompression (reservation of middle vertebrae, bone graft and plate-screws fixation). Among patients, there were 15 males and 9 females aged from 47 to 75 (averaged 57.9) years old. Preoperative, postoperative at 1 week and the latest following-up AP and lateral X-rays were used to observe bone union, displacement of implant, adjacent segment degeneration, changes of Cobb angle of fusion segment. JOA scoring were applied for evaluate recovery of nerve function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All operations were completed successfully, 2 cases ocurred hoarseness, and improved after treated symptomatically. Nineteen patients were followed up from 3.1 to 5.3 years with an average of 3.9 years. Bone union time ranged from 3 to 7 (averaged 4.5) months. No screw loosening and displacement occurred. Nine patients occurred titanium mesh subsidence in different degrees, and 4 of them subside >3 mm; four patients ocurred adjacent segment degeneration. Postoperative Cobb angle of fusion segment at 1 week (10.40±2.94)° was improved from preoperative (5.76±4.16)°, but decreased at the latest follow-up (8.57±2.82)°, and had significant meaning compared with preoperative (P<0.01). JOA score at the latest follow-up (14.6±1.1) was higher than that of before operation (8.2±1.9), and had siginificant differences (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Segmental anterior cervical decompression for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy has a high clinical operability, and plays an important role in recovering cervical curvature and nerve function based on completely decompression.
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Dong
authors: Ming-sheng
authors: MS
authors: Tan
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Yi
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Yang
authors: Xiang-sheng
authors: XS
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000601:surgery*