Anterolateral uncoforaminotomy for cervical spondylotic monoradiculopathy

Twenty patients with cervical spondylotic monoradiculopathy treated with anterolateral uncoforaminotomy 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 18 patients and was observed posterolaterally in two. Anterolateral uncoforaminotomy was found to safely remove 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 19 of 20 radiculopathy patients. From our present series, it could be concluded that the most important factor in relieving neurological manifestations of this disorder is anterolateral decompression of the cord-root complex.