Posterior extensive simultaneous multisegment decompression with posterolateral fusion for cervical myelopathy with...

From June 1978 to May 1988, posterior decompression with posterolateral fusion was performed at Tenri Hospital on 63 cases of cervical myelopathy with instability and/or malalignment including kyphotic and/or S-shaped deformities. Among 46 cases followed up for more than 1 year, 41 cases (89.1%) improved; 21 cases (45.7%) were rated excellent, six (13%), good; 14 (30.4%), fair; one (2.2%), unchanged; and four (8.7%), poor. On x-ray examination, bone consolidation at the bone implanted area was satisfactory in 30 cases (65.2%). Cervical instability disappeared at 55 cervical interspaces of 40 cases (78.6%). Displacement at unstable interspace disappeared or improved at 49 of 61 cervical interspaces (80.3%). Although cervical kyphosis or S-shaped deformity could not be improved, accelerated progression of these deformities appeared to be prevented.