Risk Factor Analysis for C5 Palsy after Double-Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN:

A retrospective comparative study.

PURPOSE:

To clarify the risk factors related to the development of postoperative C5 palsy through radiological studies after cervical double-door laminoplasty (DDL).

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Although postoperative C5 palsy is generally considered to be the result of damage to the nerve root or segmental spinal cord, the associated pathology remains controversial.

METHODS:

A consecutive case series of 47 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated by DDL at our institution between April 2008 and April 2015 were reviewed. Postoperative C5 palsy occurred in 5 of 47 cases after DDL. We investigated 9 radiologic factors that have been reported to be risk factors for C5 palsy in various studies, and statistically examined these between the two groups of palsy and the non-palsy patients.

RESULTS:

We found a significant difference between patients with and without postoperative C5 palsy with regards to the posterior shift of spinal cord at C4/5 (p=0.008). The logistic regression analyses revealed posterior shift of the spinal cord at C4/5 (odds ratio, 12.066; p=0.029; 95% confidence interval, 1.295-112.378). For the other radiologic factors, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the present study, we showed a significant difference in the posterior shift of the spinal cord at C4/5 between the palsy and the non-palsy groups, indicating that the "tethering phenomenon" was likely a greater risk factor for postoperative C5 palsy.

• Authors: Satoshi Baba, Ko Ikuta, Hiroko Ikeuchi, Makoto Shiraki, Norihiro Komiya, Takahiro Kitamura, Hideyuki Senba, Satoshi Shidahara
• Journal: Asian spine journal (Asian Spine J) Vol. 10 Issue 2 Pg. 298-308 (Apr 2016) ISSN: 1976-1902 [Print] Korea (South)
• PMID: 27114771 (Publication Type: Journal Article)