A Feasibility Study of a New Muscle Sparing “C3 Dome-Hybrid Open-Door Laminoplasty”

Study Design. Retrospective case series to investigate the result of a new C3 dome-hybrid open-door laminoplasty technique. Objective. This study reports the design and feasibility of a new hybrid laminoplasty technique aimed to reduce the complications of the conventional laminoplasty, with the incorporation of C3 dome-osteotomy, an open-door C4–6 instrumented laminoplasty and C7 cephalad dome-osteotomy. Summary of Background Data. Recent findings showed that the preservation of the dorsal muscles attached at either C2 or C7 cervical spine reduced the complications of C3–C7 open-door laminoplasty. Methods. A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent the C3 dome-hybrid laminoplasty technique by a single surgeon with at least 2 years follow-up was performed. The surgical technique was described in detail. Clinical and radiological outcome data were analyzed. Results. Twenty six patients with cervical cord compression who underwent C3 dome-hybrid laminoplasty were recruited. The mean postoperative follow-up was 45.6 ± 24.7 (24–101) months. Significant improvements were observed in the preoperative to postoperative mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score (13→15, P < 0.001), Nurick grade (2.3→1.2, P < 0.001), neck disability index (NDI) (23→11, P = 0.011), 36-item short form survey (SF-36) physical component score (40→46, P = 0.027), and neck visual analogue scale (VAS) (3.1→0.3, P < 0.001). There was no significant loss in cervical lordosis from 12° preoperatively to 8° at final follow-up. Postoperative cervical range of motion (ROM) was preserved at 85% and 78% of the preoperative ROM at 2 years and at final follow-up, respectively. When comparing the first 10 patients with the next 16 patients, there was a reduction in mean operation time from 252 ± 75 to 208 ± 7 minutes, mean blood loss from 359 ± 326 to 211 ± 177 mL, and median hospital stay from 7 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 34) to 5 days (IQR: 6). At final follow-up, no patients had revision surgery, spinal infection, C5 palsy, symptomatic cervical kyphosis, or axial neck pain. Conclusion. The new C3 dome-hybrid laminoplasty technique is safe, feasible, and reproducible with good clinical outcomes. This technique may be considered as an alternative to traditional laminoplasty for patients with C3–C7 multi-level myelopathic disease. Level of Evidence: 3