Long-term evaluation of cervical spine disorders following laminectomy

The Authors report the results obtained by long-term clinical and radiological evaluation of patients who had undergone cervical multiple bilateral laminectomy to relieve the compression exerted on the cord by different diseases (spondylarthrosis, syringohydromyelia, intramedullary and extramedullary tumours, leptomeningeal cysts and extradural tumours). 98 patients were reviewed, the follow-up ranging from 8 to 24 years (mean 14 years). The results demonstrate that the most severe post-laminectomy changes are recorded in patients with intramedullary lesions and when middle-low cervical spine levels (C4-C7) are affected. The significance of spinal deformities such as kyphosis, spondylolisthesis and swan-neck is also discussed.