Purpose Laminoplasty was developed in the 1970s as an alternative technique to laminectomy in treating patients with ossified posterior longitudinal ligaments or cervical spondylosis. The proposed advantage was expansion of the spinal canal while preserving spinal stability and preventing the formation of postlaminectomy kyphosis. Methods A meta-analysis of the laminoplasty literature was performed. Outcome measures included postoperative cervical alignment, change in range of motion (ROM), neurologic outcome, and complications. Results Seventy-one studies comprising more than 2000 patients were reviewed. All studies were retrospective and nonrandomized. There was worsening of cervical alignment after laminoplasty in 35% of patients. Ten percent of long-term follow-up patients developed postlaminoplasty kyphosis. There was significant progressive decrease in cervical ROM after laminoplasty, with a mean decrease of 50%. In long-term follow-up studies, the ROMs of laminoplasty patients paralleled those of laminectomy patients. The mean recovery rate was 55% (range: 20%–80%), with approximately 80% of patients improving. There was no difference in neurologic outcome based on laminoplasty versus laminectomy or on the different types of laminoplasty techniques used. Reporting of complications was inconsistent. There was no evidence of postlaminectomy membrane leading to neurologic compromise or deterioration. Postoperative C5 nerve root dysfunction was reported by a few studies, and the incidence was approximately 8%. Axial neck pain after laminoplasty was noted in 6% to 60% of patients. Conclusions There is no benefit of laminoplasty over laminectomy and fusion in terms of preservation of spinal alignment, kyphotic deformity, and neurologic outcome, which we identify after this review.