Preliminary results of the posterior cervical microscopic foraminotomy with tubular retractor system(MetrixTM system)

초록

Objectives: Posterior cervical microcopic foraminotomy was the preferred procedure for a posterolateral cervical disc or foraminal stenosis, however, neckpain from wide skin incision and muscle injury was the problems. The authors performed cervical microscopic foraminotomy with Metrix system and its results were compared to classical cervical microscopic foraminotomy. Methods: Ten patients underwent posterior cervical microforaminotomy using the Metrix tubular dilator system during 5 months. We used a group of 10 classical patients for our institution as a comparison group. Pain was rated using a visual analog scale and classified into a radicular and neck component. Diameters and lengths of laminoforaminotomy on the postoperative CT were compared with two methods Results: Postoperative pain scores to the radiculopathies were not different but postopertive pain scores to the neckpain on the follow up periods was significantly different. The average vertical and transverse diameters of the laminforaminotomy defect on the postoperative CT scans were identical for classical and new procedures. Average hospital stays of the classical methods was 7.5 days comparison with 4.5 days of new procedure. Conclusions: Posterior cervicothoracic foraminotomy with tubular retractors systems is able to accomplish the same degree of decompression and obtain the same clinical results as classical methods and had superior to less postoperative neckpain and hospital stays.