Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a common procedure for degenerative cervical
radiculopathy. In 1996, Dr. H.D. Jho reported an operative technique allowing nerve
root decompression via anterior uncoforaminotomy whereas avoiding fusion.
PURPOSE
To assess long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of anterior uncoforaminotomy
in patients with degenerative cervical spine pathology.
STUDY DESIGN
A single clinic, retrospective cohort study.
PATIENT SAMPLE
Adult patients who underwent anterior uncoforaminotomy from 2013 to 2018.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Clinical outcomes were assessed using VAS, NDI, SF-36 criteria. Radiological parameters
included sagittal balance, disc height and White anPanjabi criterion.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All patients underwent unilateral single-level anterior uncoforaminotomy, and long-term
clinical and radiologic follow up was carried out. Clinical outcomes were assessed
using VAS, NDI, SF-36 criteria. Radiological parameters evaluated included sagittal
balance, disc height and White and Panjabi criteria (3.5 mm of translation, 11 degrees
of kyphosis). The mean follow-up period was 33.3 ± 10.6 months (range 12–57 months).
RESULTS
All measures of clinical outcome improved. VAS (neck) and VAS (arm) decreased 3 [2;
4] and 5 [3; 5.2] points (median [interquartile range]), respectively (p<0.001); NDI
improved from 0.38 [0.36; 0.4], to 0.29 [0.22; 0.34] (p<0.001). Two patients (6%)
required additional surgery one year after operation. There were no complications
in the perioperative period. Disc height decreased 0.8 mm [0.1; 2.1] (p<0.001). All
patients retained stability of the cervical spine based on White and Panjabi criteria.
Sagittal balance parameters did not change significantly.
CONCLUSION
Uncoforaminotomy is an effective and safe method to decompress a unilateral single-level
nerve root in degenerative cervical radiculopathy whereas preserving anatomy and motion
of the cervical spine.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 02, 2021
Accepted:
January 26,
2021
Received in revised form:
January 19,
2021
Received:
April 18,
2020
Footnotes
FDA device/drug status: Not applicable
Author disclosures: VSK: Nothing to disclose. VVK: Nothing to disclose. BLC: Nothing to disclose. AVE: Nothing to disclose. EAL: Nothing to disclose. EVA: Nothing to disclose. AVB: Nothing to disclose. APP: Nothing to disclose. JAR: Nothing to disclose.
Identification
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