Percutaneous multilevel decompressive laminectomy, foraminotomy, and instrumented fusion for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and myelopathy: assessment of feasibility and surgical technique.

OBJECT: Extensive muscle dissection associated with conventional dorsal approaches to the cervical spine frequently results in local pain, muscle wasting, and temporarily painful and restricted neck movement. The utility of a percutaneous muscle-sparing access technique and specifically modified instrumentation for multilevel posterior cervical decompression and fusion were evaluated.

METHODS: Eleven patients (six men, five woman; mean age 72.8 +/- 6.3 years) presenting with refractory neck pain and progressive multilevel cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy due to cervical spondylosis with spinal canal and neural foraminal stenosis underwent multilevel laminectomy, foraminotomy, and subsequent instrumented posterior fusion via bilateral or unilateral percutaneous muscle dilation approaches. A novel cannulated polyaxial instrumentation system was used for unilateral transpedicular/translaminar fixation.

RESULTS: Significant reduction of Neck Disability Index and Nurick Scale scores and partial or complete recovery of upper extremity radicular deficits was observed during follow-up (mean 14.6 months). Mean procedural blood loss was 45.5 ml, and mean length of stay in hospital was 5.7 days. Fusion was demonstrated in 10 patients between 12 and 14 months postoperatively. Operative exposure and instrumentation were significantly facilitated by specific modifications of retractor/access port systems, surgical instruments, and implants.

CONCLUSIONS: Muscle sparing posterior decompression and instrumented fusion constitutes a safe and effective surgical option in a selected subgroup of patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic radiculomyelopathy. Specific modifications in surgical technique, instrumentation, and implants are mandatory for effective achievement of the surgical goals. The use of refined image guidance technology and intraoperative imaging can further improve surgical safety and efficacy.