BACKGROUND Microendoscopic foraminotomy has been reported to be effective for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy, using outcome measurement scores such as the neck disability index (NDI) and numerical rating scale (NRS). However, the scores for spine surgery do not always reflect the true subjective satisfaction of the patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to s...

Congenital Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) defined first by Dr. Sarpyener in 1940’s17, and degenerative LSS was defined by Verbiest in 1950’s.19 Degenerative LSS can be classified as simple or complex LSS, depending on the presence or absence of attendant pathologies. LSS can also be classified on axial plane as central, lateral, or foraminal. LSS may result inneurogenic claucation or radiculopath...

Surgical decompression for cervical radiculopathy includes anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, anterior or posterior cervical foraminotomy, and cervical arthroplasty after decompression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a CO2 laser in posterior-approach surgery for unilateral cervical radiculopathy. From January 2006 to December 2008, 12 consecutive patients with uni...

Cervical anterior foraminotomy (AF) is an anterior surgical technique for the cervical spine aimed to decompress intervertebral foramen and lateral side of the spinal canal. This technique aims to remove the offending lesion, either a disc fragment or osteophyte compressing the neural structures, via a bony window at the uncovertebral area; while preserving the structure and functions of the in...

STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled study of patients with lateral cervical disc herniations, operated either in a full-endoscopic posterior or conventional microsurgical anterior technique. OBJECTIVE Comparison of results of cervical discectomies in full-endoscopic posterior foraminotomy technique with the conventional microsurgical anterior decompression and fusion. SUMMARY O...

Background: Favorable surgical results had been reported in cervical posterior foraminotomy using endoscopy; however, the learning curve for the surgeon is steep. We therefore developed a procedure that can be performed more easily and with small incision, called “Mini Open Foraminotomy (MOF)”, using a tubular retractor (22mm diameter) under direct vision. The purpose of this study was to demon...