Posterior cervical inclinatory foraminotomy for spondylotic radiculopathy preliminary

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Posterior cervical foraminotomy is a standard procedure for cervical radiculopathy.
• Preserving facet joint integrity is crucial for maintaining cervical range of motion and minimizing adjacent-segment degeneration.
• Existing techniques may involve significant facet resection, potentially compromising spinal stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel surgical technique, posterior cervical inclinatory foraminotomy (PCIF).
• To assess the efficacy of PCIF in decompressing cervical foraminal stenosis while preserving the facet joint.
• To determine the outcomes of PCIF in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Main Methods:

• PCIF involves inclinatory drilling for decompression with minimal facet resection.
• The study included 34 patients (26 male, 8 female) undergoing PCIF between April 2007 and December 2009.
• A total of 55 spinal levels were treated for radiculopathy due to cervical foraminal stenosis.

Main Results:

• Complete improvement in radiculopathic pain was observed in 76% of patients (26/34).
• Partial improvement was noted in 24% of patients (8/34).
• The technique successfully preserved a significant portion of the facet joint and capsule.

Conclusions:

• PCIF is an effective surgical approach for managing cervical foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy.
• The technique allows for greater preservation of the facet joint compared to traditional methods.
• PCIF represents a viable alternative for treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.