Clinical efficacy of titanium micro-plate on the unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty for cervical spondylopathy

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of titanium micro-plate and suture suspension on the unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty for cervical spondylopathy. Methods From January 2009 to January 2016, 41 patients underwent unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty were selected. All patients were divided into two groups: group A, 21 cases of laminoplasty by using suture suspension, group B, 20 cases of laminoplasty by using titanium micro-plate. The improvement rate of JOA score, value of cervical curvature, angle of open-door and axial symptoms and the efficacy of the two groups were compared. Results The two groups were followed up for 6 to 70 months, with an average of 34 months. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the improvement rate of JOA score(P>0.05), but the maintainence of cervical curvature and opened-lamina angle, and axial symptoms were significanty different between the two groups(P<0.05), and group B had a better outcome than that of Group A. Conclusions Unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty with both titanium micro-plate fixation and suture suspension technique has good clinical efficacy on cervical spondylopathy, but the titanium micro-plate fixation can make better outcome in the maintainence of postoperative cervical curvature and cervical cannal decompression and the reducement of axial symptoms. Key words: Cervical; Laminoplasty; Titanium micro-plate; Cervical curvature; Axial symptoms