Endoscopic partial corpectomy using anterior decompression for cervical myelopathy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Techniques

Background:

• Traditional treatments for ventral cervical cord compression, such as anterior discectomy and corpectomy with fusion, carry risks, particularly with long-segment fusions.
• Spinal fusion can lead to adjacent segment degeneration and complications, necessitating alternative approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the surgical technique, indications, limitations, and early outcomes of endoscopic partial corpectomy for ventral cervical cord compression.
• To present a novel, minimally invasive method that avoids spinal fusion and its associated complications.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of the endoscopic surgical technique for partial corpectomy, focusing on minimal vertebral body removal.
• Application of the technique in cases of ventral cervical cord compression, including migrated discs and bony compressions.

Main Results:

• The technique preserves the majority of the vertebral body and disc, maintaining spinal stability without fusion.
• It avoids injury to the longus colli muscles and annulus fibrosis, preserving motion segments.
• Shorter hospital stays were observed, and the technique is adaptable to specific complex cases.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic partial corpectomy is a potentially effective alternative for anteriorly located cervical compression, avoiding fusion and preserving spinal function.
• While early results are encouraging, long-term follow-up in a larger patient cohort is necessary to fully establish safety and efficacy.