• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2015

Objective : To investigate the causes for failed anterior cervical surgery and the outcomes of secondary laminoplasty. Methods : Seventeen patients failed anterior multilevel cervical surgery and the following conservative treatments between Feb 2003 and May 2011 underwent secondary laminoplasty. Outcomes were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Scale and visual analogue scale (VAS) before the secondary surgery, at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, and the final visit. Cervical alignment, causes for revision and complications were also assessed. Results : With a mean follow-up of $29.7{\pm}12.1$ months, JOA score, recovery rate and excellent to good rate improved significantly at 2 months (p< 0.05) and maintained thereafter (p>0.05). Mean VAS score decreased postoperatively (p<0.05). Lordotic angle maintained during the entire follow up (p>0.05). The causes for secondary surgery were inappropriate approach in 3 patients, insufficient decompression in 4 patients, adjacent degeneration in 2 patients, and disease progression in 8 patients. Complications included one case of C5 palsy, axial pain and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, respectively. Conclusion : Laminoplasty has satisfactory results in failed multilevel anterior surgery, with a low incidence of complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.604-609
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• 2016

Objective : The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes associated with the use of hydroxyapatite (HA) spacer and allogeneic bone (AB) spacer in laminoplasty. Methods : From January 2006 to July 2014, 79 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament underwent cervical laminoplasty. The radiologic parameters were obtained from plain radiography and three-dimensional computed tomography. All images were taken before and after surgery. Cervical lordosis, spinal canal dimension, fusion between lamina and spacer, and resorption of spacer were checked. Clinical outcomes were assessed using visual analog scale and Japanese Orthopedic Association. Results : Double-door laminoplasty was performed on 280 levels : 182 in the HA group and 98 in the AB group. The mean follow-up was 23.1 months (range : 4-69 months). Similar fusion rates were found in these groups (p=0.3). The resorption rate between lamina and spacer was lower in the HA group (p<0.001). During the immediate postoperative period, the canal dimension of both groups increased compared with the results in the preoperative period. However, the canal dimension of the AB group decreased over time compared with that of the HA group (p<0.001). Conclusion : Double-door laminoplasty improved the clinical outcomes of both groups. However, the spinal canal dimension in the AB group showed a greater degree of reduction than in the HA group at the final postoperative follow-up. Therefore, we suggest that surgeons consider the use of larger-sized AB spacers in double-door laminoplasties.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2005

Objective : The purposes of this study are to evaluate the efficacy of en bloc open-door laminoplasty and to investigate the validity of various factors as prognotic indicators in patients with multisegmental spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament[OPLL]. Methods : The authors reviewed 43 cases in whom laminoplasty were performed for cervical myelopathy between January 2000 and December 2002. Clinical symptoms and results were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association[JOA] scale. The recovery rate was calculated and then assessed for prognostic factors such as preoperative JOA scores, ages, history of previous trauma, duration of symptoms and signal change in cord on T2-weighted magnetic resonance Image. Results : In cervical stenosis, canal widening of antero-posterior diameter and dimension after laminoplasty is 4.16mm, $87.43mm^2$ and in OPLL is 6.20mm, $117.61mm^2$. In all cases there wasn't neurologic deterioration, mild postoperative complications developed in seven cases. Four patient had a limitation of range of neck motion and the other one showed kyphotic change and another two showed C5 radiculopathy. The recovery rate of JOA score in cervical stenosis and OPLL was 62% and 68% respectively. Duration of symptoms, the severity[preoperative JOA score], and signal change in cord on T2-weighted magnetic resonance image had close relationship to the clinical outcomes. Conclusion : Unilateral en bloc laminoplasty is simultaneous expansile and decompressive method. And preoperative JOA score, symptom duration and high signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance image can be used to predict prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2021

Objective : Expansion in the spinal canal area (SCA) after laminoplasty is one of the critical factors to relieve the preoperative symptoms. No previous study has compared the increases in SCA achieved by open-door laminoplasty (ODL) and double door laminoplasty (DDL) according to the preoperative lamina angle (LA). This study was designed to clarify the relationship between the laminoplasty opening angle (OA)/laminoplasty opening size (OS) and increases in the SCA following ODL and DDL according to the preoperative LA using a simulation model. Methods : The simulation model was constructed and validated by comparing the clinical data of 64 patients who had undergone C3-C6 laminoplasty (43 patients with ODL and 21 patients with DDL). SCA expansion was predicted with a verified simulation model at various preoperative LAs (from 28° to 32°) with different OAs (40° to 44°) and OSs (10 mm to 14 mm) recruited from patient data. Results : The constructed simulation model was validated by comparing clinical data and revealed a very high degree of correlation (r=0.935, p<0.001). In this validated model, at the same OA, the increase in SCA was higher following ODL than following DDL in the usual LA (p<0.05). At the same OS, the increase in SCA was slightly larger following DDL than following ODL, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05). The difference was significant when the preoperative LA was narrower or much wider. Conclusion : Based on clinical data, a simulation model was constructed and verified that could predict increases in the SCA following ODL and DDL. When applying this model, prediction in SCA increase using the OS parameter was more practical and compatible with clinical data. Both laminoplasties achieved enough SCA, and there was no significant difference between them in the usual range.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2012

Objective : Although hydroxyapatite (HA) spacer has been used for laminoplasty, there have been no reports on factors associated with fusion and on the effects of HA shape. Methods : During January 2004 and January 2010, 45 patients with compressive cervical myelopathy underwent midline-splitting open door laminoplasty with winged (33 cases) and wingless (12 cases) HAs by a single surgeon. Minimal and mean follow up times were 12 and 28.1 months, respectively. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was used for clinical outcome measurement. Cervical X-rays were taken preoperatively, immediately post-operatively, and after 3, 6, and 12 months and computed tomography scans were performed preoperatively, immediately post-operatively and after 12 months. Cervical lordosis, canal dimension, fusion between lamina and HA, and affecting factors of fusion were analyzed. Results : All surgeries were performed on 142 levels, 99 in the winged and 43 in the wingless HA groups. JOA scores of the winged group changed from $10.4{\pm}2.94$ to $13.3{\pm}2.35$ and scores of the wingless group changed from $10.8{\pm}2.87$ to $13.8{\pm}3.05$. There was no significant difference on lordotic and canal dimensional change between two groups. Post-operative 12 month fusion rate between lamina and HA was significantly lower in the winged group (18.2 vs. 48.8% p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, male gender, and wingless type HA were significantly associated with fusion. Conclusion : Clinical outcome was similar in patients receiving winged and wingless HA, but the wingless type was associated with a higher rate of fusion between HA and lamina at 12 months post-operatively.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.575-584
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• 2021

Objective : Cervical expansive laminoplasty is an effective surgical method to address multilevel cervical spinal stenosis. During surgery, the spinous processes of C2 and C7 are usually preserved to keep the insertion points of the cervical musculature and nuchal ligament intact. In this regard, dome-like laminectomy (undercutting of C7 lamina) instead of laminoplasty is performed on C7 in selected cases. However, resection of the lamina can weaken the C7 lamina, and stress fractures may occur, but this complication has not been characterized in the literature. The objective of the present study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for C7 laminar fracture after C7 dome-like laminectomy and its impact on clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods : Patients who underwent cervical open-door laminoplasty combined with C7 dome-like laminectomy (n=123) were classified according to the presence of C7 laminar fracture. Clinical parameters (neck/arm pain score and neck disability index) and radiologic parameters (C2-7 angle, C2-7 sagittal vertical axis, and C7-T1 angle) were compared between the groups preoperatively and at postoperatively at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Risk factors for complications were evaluated, and a formula estimating C7 fracture risk was suggested. Results : C7 lamina fracture occurred in 32/123 (26%) patients and occurred at the bilateral isthmus in 29 patients and at the spinolaminar junction in three patients. All fractures appeared on X-ray within 3 months postoperatively, but patients did not present any neurological deterioration. The fracture spontaneously healed in 27/32 (84%) patients at 1 year and in 29/32 (91%) at 2 years. During follow-up, clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. However, patients with C7 fractures showed a more lordotic C2-7 angle and kyphotic C7-T1 angle than patients without C7 fractures. C7 fracture was significantly associated with the extent of bone removal. By incorporating significant factors, the probability of C7 laminar fracture could be assessed with the formula 'Risk score = 1.08 × depth (%) + 1.03 × length (%, of the posterior height of C7 vertebral body)', and a cut-off value of 167.9% demonstrated a sensitivity of 90.3% and a specificity of 65.1% (area under the curve, 0.81). Conclusion : C7 laminar fracture can occur after C7 dome-like laminectomy when a substantial amount of lamina is resected. Although C7 fractures may not cause deleterious clinical outcomes, they can lead to an unharmonized cervical curvature. The chance of C7 fracture should be discussed in the shared decision-making process.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 1989

In an attempt to eliminate some negative aspects of conventional extensive laminectomy, 4 cases of multiple level of cervical compression myelopathy, 1 OPLL(ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament) and 3 cervical stenosis, were treated with a technique of expansive laminoplasty. Operative results in all patients were satisfactory without surgical complications and all patients had a neurological improvement. We suggest that our technique is more effective one for cervical canal enlargement with preservation of stability for treating multiple level of cervical canal stenosis, OPLL, and spondylosis than conventional extensive laminectomy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.677-692
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• 2021

Many studies have focused on pre-operative sagittal alignment parameters which could predict poor clinical or radiological outcomes after laminoplasty. However, the influx of too many new factors causes confusion. This study reviewed sagittal alignment parameters, predictive of clinical or radiological outcomes, in the literature. Preoperative kyphotic alignment was initially proposed as a predictor of clinical outcomes. The clinical significance of the K-line and K-line variants also has been studied. Sagittal vertical axis, T1 slope (T1s), T1s-cervical lordosis (CL), anterolisthesis, local kyphosis, the longitudinal distance index, and range of motion were proposed to have relationships with clinical outcomes. The relationship between loss of cervical lordosis (LCL) and T1s has been widely studied, but controversy remains. Extension function, the ratio of CL to T1s (CL/T1s), and Sharma classification were recently proposed as LCL predictors. In predicting postoperative kyphosis, T1s cannot predict postoperative kyphosis, but a low CL/T1s ratio was associated with postoperative kyphosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.487-494
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• 2020

Objective : To analyze the incidence and characteristics of delayed postoperative fever in posterior cervical fusion using cervical pedicle screws (CPS). Methods : This study analyzed 119 patients who underwent posterior cervical fusion surgery using CPS. Delayed fever was defined as no fever for the first 3 postoperative days, followed by an ear temperature ≥38℃ on postoperative day 4 and subsequent days. Patient age, sex, diagnosis, laminectomy, surgical level, revision status, body mass index, underlying medical disease, surgical duration, and transfusion status were retrospectively reviewed. Results : Of 119 patients, seven were excluded due to surgical site infection, spondylitis, pneumonia, or surgical level that included the thoracic spine. Of the 112 included patients, 28 (25%) were febrile and 84 (75%) were afebrile. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that laminectomy was a statistically significant risk factor for postoperative non-pathological fever (odds ratio, 10.251; p=0.000). In contrast, trauma or tumor surgery and underlying medical disease were not significant risk factors for fever. Conclusion : Patients who develop delayed fever 4 days after posterior cervical fusion surgery using CPS are more likely to have non-pathologic fever than surgical site infection. Laminectomy is a significant risk factor for non-pathologic fever.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.215-217
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• 2014

Synovial cysts are recognized as an uncommon cause of radicular and myelopathic symptoms. They are most frequently found in the lumbar region. The cervical spine or cervicothoracic junction is a rare location for a degenerative intraspinal synovial cyst as compared with the lumbar spine. At given cervical spinal levels, synovial cysts probably share clinical features with disc herniation and stenosis. However, the pathogenesis of synovial cysts remains still controversial. Here, we report a rare case of a synovial cyst in the lower cervical spine presented as Brown-Sequard syndrome and include a brief review of the literature. To the best of our knowledge, no previous report has been issued in the English literature on a synovial cyst presenting with Brown-Sequard syndrome. Neurologic function recovered completely after complete removal of the cyst and expansive laminoplasty.