Results of anterior and posterior approaches for removal of cervical spondylosis and herniated discs

The present series (years 1975–1978) consists of 53 operated patients, 42 of whom had spondylosis and 11 cervical disc herniations. Of the patients with spondylosis 17 had also a narrow spinal canal. One disc patient had stenosis of the spinal canal (Table 1). The anterior approach was carried out according to Cloward's procedure and the posterior approaches included operating of the respective root canals and removal of ventral spondylotic masses with a microdrill or Epstein's spoons. The operation route was selected according to medial or lateral situation of the osteophytes or the herniated disc. The criterion of operation was radicular pain, motorweakness or spasticity that persisted despite conservative treatment and when there was evidence of spinal cord compression. Prior to operation all patients were studied by means of myelography and EMG. Of the total 53 patients, 43 recovered completely or considerably, nobody became worse and neurologic deficits did not progress postoperatively. The results were good in 18 of the 23 patients treated by the Cloward procedure and in 25 of the 30 laminectomized patients.