Our pilot study demonstrates insignificant loss of registration accuracy using NM compared to SM. Additionally, the radiologic planning investigation and accuracy loss due to SM movement may be avoided.
Object. Cervical radiculopathy is typically caused by posterolateral disc herniation or spondylotic foraminal stenosis, either of which may compress the ventral aspect of the nerve root. The authors undertook a study to establish the feasibility of performing an endoscopic approach for anterior cervical foraminotomy (ACFor) in a clinical setting.Methods. Application of this method on cadavers was conducted to verify the practicability of this technique. The clinical study included 16 patients (eight men and eight women; mean age 46.6 years) all presenting with unilateral radicular symptoms (one at two adjacent ipsilateral levels), which were associated with various degrees of neck pain. Disc herniations and/or uncovertebral osteophytes were confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging and high-resolution computerized tomography scanning. A total of 17 endoscopic ACFors (one two-level procedure) were performed using a rigid glass endoscope (25° angled, 3-mm diameter, 10-mm length) mounted on a tubular retractor.No major surgery-related complications were encountered. During a mean follow-up period of 13.8 months an average absolute improvement of 44% (p > 0.05) in the neck disability index score and of 96% (p > 0.05) in the visual analog scale score for radicular pain (compared with the preoperative score) was observed. During the follow-up period strength improved to normal in 84% and sensory deficit in 80% of the patients. The overall subjective patient satisfaction rate was 87.6%; the return-to-work rate after 4 weeks was 81.4%.Conclusions. The advantages of endoscopic ACFor include minimial surgical exposure, improved intraoperative visualization, direct decompression of the nerve root, and the preservation of the intervertebral disc and the motion segment.
Spinal leptomeningeal metastases occur at a late stage of systemic disease, and the prognosis is generally poor. In literature, outcomes after surgery are reported as devastating, with mortality and morbidity rates of up to 20 and 60%. The aim of surgery is to relieve pain, preserve or even restore neurological function, and reveal histology if uncertain. This may be achieved by debulking the tumor without placing the patient at an unacceptably high risk. Surgery should be performed in selected cases of spinal leptomeningeal metastases, in patients who are still ambulatory with controlled systemic disease, and should be followed by adjuvant therapy.
Spinal leptomeningeal metastases occur at a late stage of systemic disease, and the prognosis is generally poor. In the literature, outcomes after surgery are reported as devastating, with mortality and morbidity rates of up to 20% and 60%. The aim of surgery is to relieve pain, preserve or even restore neurological function, and reveal histology if uncertain. This may be achieved by debulking the tumor without placing the patient at an unacceptably high risk. Surgery should be performed in selected cases of spinal leptomeningeal metastases, in patients who are still ambulatory with controlled systemic disease, and should be followed by adjuvant therapy.
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