Clinical Outcome of Cervical Key-Hole Foraminotomy for Monolevel Cervical Radiculopathy

Abstract

Background: Cervical degenerative disc disease is the most common cause of acquired disability in patients over the age of 50. C6-C7 and C5-C6 are the most common levels involved in it. Radiculopathy can be unilateral or bilateral and single level or multiple levels. Objective: To know about the clinical outcome of cervical key-hole foraminotomy for monolevel radiculopathy. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in neurosurgery department, Al Qunfudah General Hospital, Saudi Arabia from January 2017 to December 2017. All admitted patients with mono level cervical radiculopathy due to posterolateral prolapsed intervertebral disc (PIVD) or bone spur who undergone key hole foraminotomy were included in this study, while patients with severe cervical degenerative diseases, myelopathy, instability, trauma, infection, tumors of cervical spine were excluded. Patients age, gender, level of cervical spine radiculopathy, pre-operative signs and symptoms, Pre and post-operative complications with post-operative variation in clinical status were recorded on a designed proforma. Minimum 1 month follow up was done. Results: Total 20 patients were included in which there were 12 (60%) male and 8 (40 %) female with mean age 45 years (32-65 yrs.). The mean duration of complaint was 11 months (6-17 months). In all of these cases C6, C7 level involvement was the most common with total 8 (40%) patients. Complete recovery was found in 18 (90%) patients and partial in 2 (10%) patients while there was unintended durotomy in 1 (5%). Conclusion: Minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy for cervical radiculopathy is an effective option in well selected patients in postero-lateral foraminal stenosis due to prolapsed intervertebral disc and osteophytes formation.