Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Minimally Invasive Surgery - Spine
Abstract number: 23335
MICROENDOSCOPIC POSTERIOR FORAMINOTOMY FOR CERVICAL
RADICULOPATHY
Keisuke NAKANO, Toshimitsu KAWAGISHI, Toshitada SAWADA
Takaoka Seishikai Hospital, Takaoka (JAPAN)
From 2003, we have treated 80 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy by
the posterior foraminotomy using microendosccopic discectomy (MED) system. In
this paper, the surgical procedure and the initial experience are reported. In the
prone position, the initial dilator was inserted with the assistance of the C-arm
fluoroscopy. After the serial dilation, the tubular retractor was placed above the facet
joint complex. The medial half of the facet joint was removed by the use of high
speed burr. The yellow ligament was removed by Kerrison rongeur. and then the
nerve root was decompressed. The suction tube was placed for 24 hours after
surgery. Patients were permitted to walk 6 hours after surgery without neck collar.
The average follow up period was 48 months. Operation time, blood loss, hospital
stay, hospital charge and the sick leave were evaluated and the neurological
outcomes were estimated by Tanaka score (full mark is 20 points). These values
were compared with the anterior cervical fusion which was performed by the same
authors. Neurological outcomes, operation time and blood loss were not different
between the posterior foraminotomy and the anterior cervical fusion. Hospital stay
and the sick leave were significantly shorter in posterior foraminotomy. Hospital
charge of posterior foraminotomy was 1/2 less than anterior cervical fusion.
Microendoscopic posterior foraminotomy is considered as the less invasive surgery
for cervical radiculopathy because of the less painful post-operative course.
Moreover, it seems to give socioeconomical benefits for patients.
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