Background: Posterior plating utilizing lateral mass screw fixation has been widely accepted for treating the unstable cervical spine caused by trauma, neoplasms, significant degenerative conditions, and failed anterior fusions.
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome and complications of decompressive cervical laminectomy and lateral mass screw fixation in patients treated for variable cervical spine pathologies.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients with unstable cervical spine in the period of two years. Patients were admitted and operated upon in the Department of Neurosurgery, in Banha University Hospitals from October 2015 to October 2017 and followed up for 12 to 18 months later. Postoperatively, patient's myelopathy grade and functional status was evaluated immediately after operation then weekly for the 1st month then every 3 months for the 1st year and every six months in the 2nd year.
Results: Evaluation of the postoperative myelopathy was carried out immediately postoperatively and during six months using Nurick's myelopathy grading and neck disability scale.
Statistical analysis revealed that there is a significant increase of cases of grade 1 post-operatively than those pre-operatively and a decrease in both number of cases of grade 2 and grade 4 post-operatively than pre-operatively. While other grades did not show any significant change in their figures post-operatively compared to their figures pre-operatively. |
