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Full-endoscopic cervical arcocristectomy for the treatment of spinal stenosis: results of a cadaver study

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Abstract

Purpose

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a multifactorial disease that is directly correlated by the degree of spinal stenosis. Surgery remains the best therapy. A posterior approach is often recommended in patients with multilevel dorsal cervical compression. Aim of the present experimental study was to evaluate the feasibility of a full-endoscopic arcocristectomy in a cadaver study.

Methods

We performed full-endoscopic arcocristectomy on ten formalin-fixed human cervical specimens. Before and after decompression we obtained high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) data to evaluate the diameter of the cervical spinal canal.

Results

Overall, surgery was possible on 55 segments in ten cadaver specimens. A mean increase of 4.1 mm (±1.2 mm) in the sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal could be achieved (p < 0.05, t test).

Conclusions

The full-endoscopic arcrocristectomy is feasible and achieves a sufficient decompression. This minimal invasive technique protects most of the dorsal structures and therefore probably preserves biomechanical functions, which has to be proven in future studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Sven O. Eicker, Hans-Jakob Steiger & Daniel Hänggi

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Münster, Germany

    Mark Klingenhöfer & Walter Stummer

Authors
  1. Sven O. Eicker
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  2. Mark Klingenhöfer
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  3. Walter Stummer
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  4. Hans-Jakob Steiger
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  5. Daniel Hänggi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sven O. Eicker.

Additional information

S.O. Eicker and M. Klingenhöfer contributed equally to this work.

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Eicker, S.O., Klingenhöfer, M., Stummer, W. et al. Full-endoscopic cervical arcocristectomy for the treatment of spinal stenosis: results of a cadaver study. Eur Spine J 21, 2487–2491 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2392-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2392-y

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