Movement study following anterior cervical decompression without fusion

Movement studies of the neck have shown that certain patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) demonstrate instability in the vertebral joint immediately above the posterior osteophytic bar. While Cloward's anterior cervical decompression with fusion eliminates the cord or root compressive element, it adds to the hypermobility of the adjoining vertebral segment. In an attempt to reduce the hypermobility or subluxation, anterior cervical decompression without fusion was carried out on a selected group of twenty-three patients with spondylotic cervical myelopathy in whom the cord compression was mainly at a single level. Follow-up cineradiographic studies of these cases demonstrated the continued preservation of the range of movement of the adjoining vertebral segments and in 30%, a return of normal functional mobility to the affected cervical intervertebral joint. The findings and results of anterior cervical decompression surgery to a single level are reported.