Transcorporeal decompression using a fully-endoscopic anterior cervical approach to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy: surgical design and clinical application

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the common procedure for treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but ACDF may cause pseudoarthrosis, accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments, loss of activity of fused segments and other complications. The full-endoscopic technique can treat CSM, without the complications mentioned above. Therefore, it is of great clinical value to investigate the surgical scheme of anterior percutaneous full-endoscopic transcorporeal decompression of the spinal cord (APFETDSC). Methods A total of 28 cases with single-segment Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) from April 2017 to July 2019 were involved in our study. The size of the disc-osteophyte complex were measured using imaging data prior to the operation. The diameter and direction of the bony passage was determined according to the size and central position of the complex, respectively. 28 patients underwent the above scheme for CSM. Clinical outcome evaluations included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores .Imaging assessment including MRI, CT and X-rays. Results The diameter of the designed bony passage was about 6.9 mm, and directed toward the lower edge of the diseased lower vertebral body oblique to the center of the disc-osteophyte complex. All patients successfully completed the operation. The postoperative neck pain VAS and JOA were significantly improved compared to preoperative values (p < 0.01). Postoperative MRI indicated complete decompression of the spinal cord. CT scanning one year after the operation revealed that an almost healed bony passage and X-ray imaging showed satisfactory physiological curvature of the cervical spine, without cervical instability. Conclusion Based on the diameter and direction of the bony passage, as determined by the size and position of the disc-osteophyte complex, as indicated by MRI and CT scanning, PEATCD offers good decompression of the spinal cord and ensures excellent therapeutic outcome.