Unilateral hemilaminectomy for the microsurgical removal of cervical intraspinal tumors / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate advantages and disadvantages of unilateral hemilaminectomy for the microsurgical removal of cervical intraspinal tumors. Methods Twenty-three patients with cervical intraspinal tumors were treated microsurgically with unilateral hemilaminectomy. In condition that the vertabral lamina was kept intact in bony structure, an opening (key-hole) was made in the unilateral lamina by using a drill or a small-sized bone rongeur. Then cervical intraspinal tumors were removed via the “key-hole”. Results Tumors were completely removed in all the 23 patients and no symptoms relating nerve injuries were observed. Postoperative follow-up for 3~16 months (mean, 8 months) revealed no recurrence and spinal deformity. Conclusions Unilateral hemilaminectomy for the treatment of cervical intraspinal tumors is a mini-invasive procedure which benefits the spinal stability. The pitfall of the technique lies in limited surgical field.