Outcome of Laminoforaminotomy for Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy

Background: Cervical foraminotomy provide excellent results in appropriately selected patients with foraminal stenosis in either soft disc prolapse or osteophyte. Objective: The aim of this paper is to report the outcome of laminoforaminotomy of cervical radiculopathy. Material and Methods: We studied prospectively 40 consecutive patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy without myelopathy operated by minimal invasive cervical laminoforaminotomy and followed up for 2 years postoperatively. Results: There were 25 male and 15 female with mean age 44.9±7.1 year (29-65 ys). The mean duration of complaint was 4±1.7 months (1-7 months). There were 10 patients had C5, 12 patients had C6, 9 patients had C7 and 4 patients had C8 symptomatology while double level occured in 3 patients. One occurred at C5/6 while two occurred at C6/7. The mean operation duration was 74.5±25.9 minutes (45-120 minutes). Outcome was categorized into satisfactory and unsatisfactory. Satisfactory outcome was found in 37 (92.5%) and unsatisfactory in 3 (7.5%) patients. Complications occurred in 5 patients in the form of superficial wound infection in 1 patient, temporarily parasthesia in 2 patients, permanent parasthesia in 1 patient, and permanent muscle weakness in 1 patient. Conclusion: Cervical foraminotomy for cervical radiculopathy is an effective option in well selected patients with postero-lateral foraminal stenosis in either soft disc prolapse or osteophyte for nerve root decompression.