Safe Route for Cervical Approach: Partial Pediculotomy, Partial Vertebrotomy Approach for Posterior Endoscopic Cervical Foraminotomy and Discectomy

INTRODUCTION: Cervical radiculopathy is a common cervical spine condition. There is a paucity of literature discussing the effect of partial pediculotomy and partial vertebrotomy for posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy (PPPV PECF) on cervical radiculopathy. We investigated the radiologic and clinical outcomes of this approach. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation of 30 cases with cervical radiculopathy who underwent PPPV PECF. Preoperative, postoperative roentgenogram for evaluation of stability, computed tomography (CT) evaluation of foraminal dimensions, and area in sagittal view was performed. Three-dimensional reconstruction area of decompression evaluation was performed. Clinical outcomes of the visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Macnab score were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no complication and recurrence in our PPPV PECF cohort during the study period. At preoperative, 1 week postoperative, and 3 months postoperative and final follow-up, the mean visual analog scale score had significant improvement, with scores of 7.6, 3.0, 2.1, and 1.7, respectively, P < 0.05, and also the mean Oswestry Disability Index, with scores of 73.9, 28.1, 23.3, and 21.5 respectively, P < 0.05. Macnab criteria showed all patients scoring good and excellent. Radiologic results showed PPPV PECF had a significant increase in decompression in the foramen area in all CT-measured parameters, as compared with the mean preoperative values; 1) sagittal area increased 60.1 1 23.1 mm(2), 2) CT craniocaudal length increased 4.0 +/- 1.54 mm, 3) CT ventrodorsal length increased 4.0 + 1.97 mm, and 4) 3-dimensional CT scan reconstruction decompression area increased 996 +/- 266 mm(2), P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: PPPV PECF is a safe route of decompression of cervical spine with good clinical and radiologic outcome.