Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Day-care Posterior Foraminotomy and Decompression of the Cervical Spine

Anterior cervical procedures are associated with many intra- and post-operative complications leading to long-term patient morbidity. In this study, we have evaluated the clinical and radiological Outcome of day care posterior cervical foraminotomy in patients with single-level cervical radiculopathy with or without neurodeficit.

Seventeen patients underwent single-level posterior cervical foraminotomy for radicular symptoms were studied between June 2011 and May 2016. Clinical outcome was studied by visual analog scale (VAS) score, neck disability index (NDI), and Odom's criteria. Adjacent segment degeneration was evaluated on lateral cervical radiograph at every follow-up by calculating the focal and global angulation of the cervical spine and disc height at the operated level and adjacent segments. Dynamic lateral cervical spine radiograph was done to evaluate segmental instability.

After a mean follow-up duration of 30.64 months, 13 patients had excellent, three patients had good, and one patient had fair outcome as per Odom's criteria. The mean VAS score for radicular pain, neck pain, and NDI was significantly reduced postoperatively (P < 0.001). The mean focal angulation, mean global angulation, the disc height at operated and adjacent level were not changed significantly (P > 0.05). There was no instability noted postoperatively on lateral dynamic cervical spine radiographs. There was no complication in our study.

Posterior cervical foraminotomy is an effective surgical method for treatment of patients with single-level cervical radiculopathy and helps to achieve good clinical and radiological outcome, prevents postoperative adjacent segment degeneration and instability with minimal complications.