Decompression via microsurgical anterior foraminotomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Technical note. 1997

H D Jho
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.

Over the past few years, a microsurgical anterior foraminotomy technique has been developed by the author and used to achieve spinal cord decompression for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. A 5 x 8-mm unilateral anterior foraminotomy is accomplished by resecting the uncovertebral joint via an anterior approach. Through the foraminotomy hole, the posterior osteophytes at the spinal cord canal are removed diagonally up to the beginning of the contralateral nerve root. To treat multilevel disease, a tunnel is made among the foraminotomy holes. This technique accomplishes widening of the spinal cord canal in the transverse and longitudinal axes by direct resection of the compressive lesions through the holes of unilateral anterior foraminotomies; however, it does not require bone fusion or postoperative immobilization. Postoperatively patients remain in the hospital overnight, and do not need to wear cervical braces. This new surgical technique has shown excellent clinical outcomes with fast recovery and adequate anatomical decompression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The surgical technique is reported and illustrated by two of the author's cases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008297 Male Males
D008866 Microsurgery The performance of surgical procedures with the aid of a microscope.
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009135 Muscular Diseases Acquired, familial, and congenital disorders of SKELETAL MUSCLE and SMOOTH MUSCLE. Muscle Disorders,Myopathies,Myopathic Conditions,Muscle Disorder,Muscular Disease,Myopathic Condition,Myopathy
D002574 Cervical Vertebrae The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK. Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013117 Spinal Cord Compression Acute and chronic conditions characterized by external mechanical compression of the SPINAL CORD due to extramedullary neoplasm; EPIDURAL ABSCESS; SPINAL FRACTURES; bony deformities of the vertebral bodies; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations vary with the anatomic site of the lesion and may include localized pain, weakness, sensory loss, incontinence, and impotence. Conus Medullaris Syndrome,Myelopathy, Compressive,Extramedullary Spinal Cord Compression,Spinal Cord Compression, Extramedullary,Compression, Spinal Cord,Compressions, Spinal Cord,Compressive Myelopathy,Conus Medullaris Syndromes,Spinal Cord Compressions,Syndrome, Conus Medullaris,Syndromes, Conus Medullaris
D013128 Spinal Osteophytosis Outgrowth of immature bony processes or bone spurs (OSTEOPHYTE) from the VERTEBRAE, reflecting the presence of degenerative disease and calcification. It commonly occurs in cervical and lumbar SPONDYLOSIS. Osteophytosis, Spinal,Osteophytoses, Spinal,Spinal Osteophytoses
D014057 Tomography, X-Ray Computed Tomography using x-ray transmission and a computer algorithm to reconstruct the image. CAT Scan, X-Ray,CT Scan, X-Ray,Cine-CT,Computerized Tomography, X-Ray,Electron Beam Computed Tomography,Tomodensitometry,Tomography, Transmission Computed,X-Ray Tomography, Computed,CAT Scan, X Ray,CT X Ray,Computed Tomography, X-Ray,Computed X Ray Tomography,Computerized Tomography, X Ray,Electron Beam Tomography,Tomography, X Ray Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized Axial,Tomography, Xray Computed,X Ray Computerized Tomography,X Ray Tomography, Computed,X-Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,Beam Tomography, Electron,CAT Scans, X-Ray,CT Scan, X Ray,CT Scans, X-Ray,CT X Rays,Cine CT,Computed Tomography, Transmission,Computed Tomography, X Ray,Computed Tomography, Xray,Computed X-Ray Tomography,Scan, X-Ray CAT,Scan, X-Ray CT,Scans, X-Ray CAT,Scans, X-Ray CT,Tomographies, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Electron Beam,Tomography, X Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X Ray Computerized,Tomography, X Ray Computerized Axial,Transmission Computed Tomography,X Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,X Ray, CT,X Rays, CT,X-Ray CAT Scan,X-Ray CAT Scans,X-Ray CT Scan,X-Ray CT Scans,X-Ray Computed Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Tomography,Xray Computed Tomography

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