A new article published in The Spine Journal compares open and minimally invasive approaches to posterior cervical foraminotomy.
The researchers examined three databases to compare data about open and minimally invasive cervical foraminotomy. There were 195 initial articles identified and 20 that were relevant on abstract review. In six articles, surgeons performed open foraminotomy; in three articles a minimally invasive approach was used.
Here are six quick findings from the study:
• Clinical success rate was 92.7 percent for open foraminotomy
• Clinical success rate was 94.9 percent for minimally invasive foraminotomy
• The open group showed relative homogeneity for Q value 7.6
• The open group also relative homogeneity with 12 value of 34.4 percent
• The minimally invasive group showed moderate heterogeneity Q value of 4.44
• The minimally invasive group showed a 12 value of 54.94 percent
The researchers concluded, "Patients with symptomatic cervical radiculopathy from foraminal stenosis can be effectively managed with either traditional open or MIS foraminotomy. There is no significant difference in the pooled outcomes between the two groups."