title: [Incidences of C5 nerve palsy after multi-segmental cervical decompression through different approaches].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the incidence of C5 nerve root palsy after multi-segmental cervical decompression through different approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted among 375 patients undergoing multi-segmental cervical decompression in anterior corpectomy and fusion fixation, anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion fixation + posterior decompression and fusion fixation, posterior cervical laminectomy decompression, fusion and internal fixation, and posterior laminoplasty and fusion groups. The exclusion criteria included lack of follow-up data, spinal cord injury preventing preoperative or postoperative motor testing, or surgery not involving the C5 level. The incidence of C5 palsy was determined and the potential risk factors C5 palsy were analyzed including age, sex, revision surgery, preoperative weakness, diabetes, smoking, number of levels decompressed, and a history of previous upper extremity surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 375 patients, 60 patients were excluded and the data of 315 patients were analyzed, including 146 women and 169 men with a mean age of 57.7 years (range 39-72 years). The overall incidence of C5 nerve palsy was 6.03% (19/315) in these patients; in the subgroups receiving different surgeries, the incidence was 8.62% in the cervical road laminectomy and fusion fixation group, 7.79% in the anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion fixation + posterior decompression and fusion and internal fixation, 4.68% in the anterior corpectomy and fusion fixation group, and 3.85% in the posterior laminoplasty and fusion group. No significant difference was found in the incidences among the subgroups, but men were more likely than women to develop cervical nerve root palsy (8.28% vs 3.42%, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall incidence of C5 nerve palsy following postoperative cervical spinal decompression was 6.03% in our cohort. The incidence of C5 nerve palsy did not differ significantly following different cervical decompression surgeries, but the incidence was the highest in the posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion and internal fixation group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Red Cross Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710054, China.menghail@126.com.
authors.forename: Hailiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Xiangyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Dingjun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D010243:Paralysis / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000503:physiopathology*