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Anterior cervical tunnectomy and fusion (ACTF): a novel technique for cervical canal decompression

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Abstract

Objective

To describe a novel surgical technique note coined as anterior cervical tunnectomy and fusion (ACTF) which applying on removal of posterior vertebral bony protrusions or soft extrusions.

Methods

Total twenty-three patients from January 2016 to January 2021 who experienced with spinal cord compression and performed by ACTF were retrospectively reviewed. Herein, relevant information including patient’s gender, age, BMI, intraoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications and postoperative hospitalized stay were collected. Furthermore, JOA and VAS score were both collected. Moreover, imaging parameters were measured and calculated on radiographs. Correlated data were analyzed by t test. Significance was considered when P < 0.05.

Results

All patients in this study were validated with favorable outcomes and none of postoperative complications. The Nurick grade of patients dramatically deceased postoperation (P < 0.001). And postoperative VAS score of patients (P < 0.001), as well as JOA score (P < 0.001), was given dramatical significance comparing to preoperation. Furthermore, occupying rate (OR) (P < 0.001) was obviously reduced while space available cord (SAC) (P < 0.001) and diameter of spinal cord (P < 0.001) was significantly increased postoperation. Meanwhile, disc height of involved segment, C2–7 SVA, and C2–C7 Cobb angle were measured on sagittal plane of lateral radiograph. Postoperative disc height of involved segment (P < 0.001) significantly elevated comparing to preoperation. However, there were no significance on C2–7 SVA (P = 0.460) and C2–C7 Cobb angle (P = 0.097).

Conclusions

The novel surgical technique coined by ACTF is a practicable approach during taking charge of bony and soft narrowing behind vertebral space.

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Data availability

All supporting data can be provided upon request to the authors.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the reviewers for their efforts on reviewing of our manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Nature Science Foundation (81874022 and 82172483 to Xinyu Liu; 82102522 to Lianlei Wang), Shandong Natural Science Foundation (ZR202102210113 to Lianlei Wang) and Shandong Province Taishan Scholar Project to Lianlei Wang.

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Author notes

  1. Cheng Qiu and Yunpeng Zhao have contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Cheng Qiu, Yunpeng Zhao, Lianlei Wang, Xianlei Gao, Wanliang Yang, Hao Li, Xin Pan, Yuhua Li, Xinyu Liu & Songgang Wang

  2. Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Cheng Qiu

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  1. Cheng Qiu
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Correspondence to Yuhua Li, Xinyu Liu or Songgang Wang.

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Qiu, C., Zhao, Y., Wang, L. et al. Anterior cervical tunnectomy and fusion (ACTF): a novel technique for cervical canal decompression. Eur Spine J 32, 2110–2119 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-023-07691-8

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