The Results of Spinous Process-splitting Laminoplasty Using Heterograft Spinous Process Spacer / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of heterograft spacer (Lubboc) as a substitute for autograft in cervical laminoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 21 patients with cervical myelopathy were treated by spinous process splitting laminoplasty using heterograft intraspinous spacers. The clinical and the radiographic evaluations were checked pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: The average JOA score was increased from 8.7 preoperatively to 12.9 at the final follow-up with a average recovery rate of 60.6%. Preoperative spinal canal diameter, 14.7 +/- 1.4 mm were improved to 20.1 +/- 1.8 mm postoperatively and canal to body ratio, 0.75 +/- 0.10 to 1.02 +/- 0.11 in average. The intraspinous spacer, heterograft demonstrated fragmentation and partial resorption mainly at the level of C3, 4, 5 from postoperative 2 months, but showed no clinical deterioration in spite of radiographic changes of heterograft. CONCLUSION: We think that heterograft spacer is one of the safe and effective substitutes for autograft in maintaining the improved postoperative radiographic indeces.