Efficacy and Safety of One-Stage Selective Discectomy Combined with Expansive Hemilaminectomy in the Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

OBJECTIVES: We designed a novel surgical strategy named one-stage selective discectomy combined with expansive hemilaminectomy, which might theoretically reduce the postoperative complications of cervical spon-dylotic myelopathy (CSM). The objective of this study is to evaluate its efficacy and safety. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with CSM were enrolled in this study. The procedure includes selective discectomy with fusion at 1 or 2 segments of maximal cord compression and expansive hemilaminectomy on the symptomatic or severe side of the body. Neurologic function was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedics Association Score before and after surgery. Midsagittal dural sac diameter, dural sac transverse area at segments of discetomy on magnetic resonance imaging, and lordosis of the cervical spine on lateral plain film were measured. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 88 discs and 272 hemilaminas were resected from 62 patients. The Japanese Orthopedics Association Score improved from 8.7 +/- 1.76 preoperatively to 13.4 +/- 1.61 at 1 year follow-up (P < 0.001). The mean midsagittal dural sac diameter, dural sac area, and lordotic angle also increased from 0.45 +/- 0.10 cm, 0.83 +/- 0.14 cm(2), and 7.9 +/- 2.60 +/- to 0.81 +/- 0.08 cm, 0.96 +/- 0.14 cm(2), and 11.7 +/- 3.06 degrees, respectively (P < 0.05). No case of postoperative axial pain, C5 palsy, nonunion, or kyphosis was reported. CONCLUSIONS: One-stage selective discectomy combined with expansive hemilaminectomy is an effective surgical approach for the treatment of CSM in patients whose neurologic function, midsagittal dura sac diameter, and dura transverse area can be improved and has few postoperative complications.