Clinical Results and Radiological Investigation of Cervical Laminoplasty

Cervical laminoplasty by Miyazaki's method has been performed for twenty-nine patients with myelopathy due to spondylosis and ossification of posterior longitudunal ligament in cervical spine, we preserved nuchal ligament and deep muscles for fourteen patients.The average age at surgery was 62.8 years old and the average follow-up period 2.0 years.The clinical results were evaluated using J. O. A. score and recovery rates of Hirabayashi's method. The preoparative average was 9.1 points, and it was improved up to 13.0 points postoperatively. The average recovery rate was 50.0%. Radiologically, change of alignment of the cervical spine occurred in neary half of the cases after operation, but the degree was generally slight. Mobility of the cervical spine was reduced to 60% of preoparative range. The postoperative nuchal pain and stiffness were decreased by preservation of the nuchal ligament and deep muscles.Cervical laminoplasty by Miyazaki's method is a useful procedure for treatment of the cervical myelopathy.