[Antero-lateral uncoforaminectomy in treatment of cervical spondylotic monoradiculopathy]

Thirty seven patients with cervical spondylotic monoradiculopathy treated with antero-lateral uncoforaminectomy were analysed. Spondylotic spur of the level associated with radiculopathy was revealed to be continuous from the uncovertebral joint to the posterior ridge of the vertebral body in 35 patients. Antero-lateral uncoforaminectomy was found to safely remove the continuous type of spur, resulting in decompression of the cord-root-complex, which shifted anteriorly after surgery. As a result, no neurological symptoms were observed in 36 of 37 radiculopathy patients. It could be concluded that the most important factor in relieving neurological manifestations of this disorder is decompression of the cord-root-complex.