Researchers studied 54 patients who underwent open-door laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy using a postoperative CT scan. In all cases, a 4-mm round burr was used to create the hinge at the lateral mass and lamina junction by completely removing the dorsal cortex and thinning the ventral cortex. Laminoplasty plates were used as the sole method of fixation, and no supplemental bone graft struts were used on the plated side.
There were no plate failures, dislodgements or premature closures in any level at any time postoperatively. The CT scan review showed that 55 percent of the levels were healed after three months, 77 percent after six months and 93 percent after 12 months. The C6 and C7 had the highest hinge healing rates and laminar screw backout was seen at 2.3 percent of the levels.
Read the abstract for “Plate-Only Open Door Laminoplasty Maintains Stable Spinal Canal Expansion With High Rates of hinge Union and No Plate Failures.”
Read other coverage on spine studies:
– Study Shows Minimally Invasive Surgery Effective for Elderly Patients
– Study: Nucleoplasty May Not Be An Effective Procedure
– Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
