[Application of ultrasonic bone curette in posterior cervical single open-door laminoplasty]

To investigate the safety and reliability of ultrasonic bone curette in posterior cervical single open-door laminoplasty.

The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, from 193 patients who underwent single open-door laminoplasty (C _3-7) from January 2012 to January 2016. The patients were divided into three groups according to different instruments: posterior single open-door laminoplasty was performed with ultrasonic bone curette in 61 cases (group A), with bite forceps in 73 cases (group B), and with micro-grinding drill in 59 cases (group C). There was no significant difference in gender, age, the course of disease, underlying disease and preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) between groups ( P>0.05). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume at 48 hours, JOA score, improvement rate, VAS and perioperative com-plication were compared.

The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and drainage volume at 48 hours of group A were significantly less than those in groups B and C ( P<0.05), but there was no significant between groups B and C ( P>0.05). The follow-up time was 12-21 months (mean, 14.6 months) in group A, 24-36 months (mean, 27.5 months) in group B, and 28-47 months (mean, 38.1 months) in group C. There were no cerebrospinal fluid leakage and incision infection in three groups. No complications of internal fixation loosening and rupture occurred during the follow-up. Rediating pain occurred in 6 cases of group A, 8 cases of group B, and 6 cases of group C, and was cured at 1 week after dehydration and physical therapy. No nerve root palsy was found in three groups. Fracture of portal axis occurred in 5 cases (7 segments) of group B and was fixed by micro titanium plate. The JOA score and VAS score at last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative scores in three groups ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in JOA score and improvement rate and VAS score between groups ( P>0.05).

It is safe and reliable to use the ultrasonic bone curette in posterior cervical single open-door laminoplasty. It can shorten the operative time and has similar clinical curative effect to the traditional operation, and the lateral rotation of the lamina can be avoided.