Objective:
The preferred approach in the treatment of cervical disc herniation is decided by the surgeon’s clinical experience and remains controversial. Posterior “key hole” approach is a less applied technique compared to the anterior approach. The aim of this clinical study is to evaluate the clinical, radiologic, and post-operative results of the patients who went posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy.
Methods:
The clinical, radiological, and post-operative results of the 14 patients operated by posterior cervical approach between October 2010 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
Of 14 patients operated who underwent posterior surgery, 12 were male and 2 were female; mean age was 42.8 (range 33-53 years). In all of the patients, the neurologic deficit was observed as one-sided radiculopathy (100%). In 9 of the patients, the disc level was at C6-7, 3 of the patients at C5-6, and 2 of the patients at both C5-6 and C6-7; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed soft disc herniation in 10 of the 14 patients (71.4%). Nine of the 10 patients accessible went through the complaints after the surgery (90%).
Conclusion:
Posterior cervical laminotomy-uncusectomy is an appropriate choice in cervical disc herniations. Also, good results are taken in posterior decompression surgery, even in lateral hard disc herniation cases.
Keywords: Cervical disc herniation, key hole, posterior approach