Surgical Result of the Combined Anterior and Posterior Approach in Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and necessity of combined anterior approach (discectomy and fusion) and posterior approach(open-door laminoplasty) in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: The authors reviewed 14 cases in whom combined anterior and posterior approach performed for cervical myelopathy due to simultaneous anterior and posterior pathology such as huge central disc herniation with narrow spinal canal between January 2000 and December 2002. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and then the cervical curvature, change of spinal canal to vertebral body(SC/VB) ratio and canal widening were measured and compared to the clinical symptoms. RESULTS: The mean JOA score increased from 10.4+/-3.1 preoperatively to 14.8+/-1.2 at the final follow up with a mean recovery rate 66.4%. In all cases, there were not neurologic deterioration. Mild postoperative complications developed in two cases. One patient had a limitation of range of neck motion and the other one showed kyphotic change. Postoperative radiography showed an improvement of body to canal ratios (average 0.70+/-0.08 before surgery to 1.05+/-0.12 after surgery) and mainte nance or recovery of cervical lordosis. Canal widening of antero-posterior diameter and dimension after operation is 6.8 mm, 116.61 mm2. CONCLUSION: Combined anterior and posterior procedure could be helpful in decompression of the spinal cord and good functional recovery in spondylotic myelopathy patients with combined anterior and posterior pathology such as huge disc herniation accompanying narrow spinal canal.

Severe Hypothermia Accompanying Acute Subdural Hemorrhage

Hypothermia is relatively a common condition and most cases involve mild hypothermia. But severe hypothermia below 30 degrees C is medical an emergency condition. We report the case of a 41-year-old man who had been left in a manhole for more than 9 hours on a freezing cold water. He was transported to our emergency room in semicomatose state with a body temperature 26.5 degrees C The patient was warmed with active rewarming. After initial stabilization, the patient was taken for a brain computed tomography and found to have large fronto-temporo-parietal(FTP) subdural hemorrhage. The patient underwent an emergent decompressive craniectomy and hematoma evacuation. After surgery, he recovered to drowsy mentation and vital signs were stable.