Cervicothoracic radiculopathy treated using posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy.
Publication/Presentation Date
3-1-2003
Abstract
OBJECT: The authors conducted a study to identify the effectiveness and morbidity rate associated with treating cervicothoracic disc disease (radiculopathy) via a posterior approach.
METHODS: Nineteen patients underwent posterior cervicothoracic laminoforaminotomy during a 5.6-year period. Medical records, imaging studies, office charts, hospital records, and phone interview data were reviewed. Specific information analyzed included patient demographics, side of lesion, and conservative treatment, symptoms, and pre- and postoperative pain levels. Pain was rated using a visual analog scale and classified into a radicular and neck component. Data in 19 patients (seven women and 12 men) who underwent 20 procedures (one patient underwent separate bilateral foraminotomies) were analyzed. The mean patient age was 54.8 years (range 38-73 years), and the follow-up period ranged from 23 to 62 months. Symptom duration ranged from 1 to 14 months (mean 3.4 months) and consisted of weakness, numbness, and painful radiculopathies in 11, 16, and 20 cases, respectively. Motor weakness was identified in 11 of 19 patients (mean grade of 4.35), and postoperatively strength normalized in eight of 11 (mean grade of 4.79). The improvement in motor scores was significant (p = 0.007). Pain was the most common presenting symptom. Preoperative radiculopathies were rated between 0 and 10 (mean 7.45), and postoperatively scores were reduced to 0 to 3 (mean 0.2) which was significant (p < 0.0001). Preoperative neck pain was rated between 0 and 8 (mean 2.55), and on follow up ranged from 0 to 2 (mean 0.5), which was also significant (p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Posterior cervicothoracic foraminotomy was a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of patients with laterally located disc herniations.
Volume
98
Issue
2 Suppl
First Page
131
Last Page
136
ISSN
0022-3085
Published In/Presented At
Harrop, J. S., Silva, M. T., Sharan, A. D., Dante, S. J., & Simeone, F. A. (2003). Cervicothoracic radiculopathy treated using posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy. Journal of neurosurgery, 98(2 Suppl), 131–136. https://doi.org/10.3171/spi.2003.98.2.0131
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
12650396
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article