Minimally invasive surgery for the management of cervical spondylosis

Dorsal surgical procedures have a well-established role in the treatment of both radiculopathy and myelopathy caused by cervical spondylosis. Laminectomy and laminoplasty procedures can both lead to postoperative kyphosis because of the removal of the dorsal supporting structures of the neck. Minimally invasive or minimal-access spinal surgery procedures of the dorsal cervical spine are evolving techniques with the goal of decompressing the neural structures with minimal disruption of the dorsal supporting structures. We think that this will lead to less postoperative pain and a decreased incidence of post-decompression kyphotic deformity. Patient selection, techniques, and results are discussed for both minimally invasive cervical laminoforaminotomy and stenosis decompression.