German Clinical Trials Register

Acronym/abbreviation of the study

No Entry

URL of the study

No Entry

Brief summary in lay language

In cervical spinal canal stenosis, there is a narrowing (stenosis) of the bony canal in the area of the cervical spine, where the spinal cord is located. A narrowing of this channel can lead to damage to the spinal cord (myelopathy). Symptoms of myelopathy include feelings or impairments in the arms and legs, walking difficulties or problems with urination and bowel movements or sexual dysfunctions. The spinal stenosis is usually due to the advancing age of the patient (degenerative). Occasionally, the stenosis does not only occur on one single movement segment of the cervical spine (monosegmental), but affects several segments (multisegmental). In a multisegmental cervical spinal canal stenosis with appropriate clinical symptoms, a relief of the spinal cord from the neck (posterior), may be necessary with subsequent stabilization of the bony structures with a screw and rod system (spinal fusion). This procedure has been routinely performed in our department for over ten years. Nevertheless, it is a complex, several-hour intervention. Due to the necessary stabilization of the cervical spine over several movement segments, there is also a permanent restriction of movement after the operation. The aim of this research project is to retrospectively record the peri-and short-term postoperative course of treatment of patients undergoing degenerative, multisegmental cervical spinal canal stenosis by multi-level posterior spondylodesis from 2004 to 2016, as well as to collect data on long-term outcome and current findings by evaluating the patients in our out-patient clinic or by sending questionnaires or via telephone interviews.

Brief summary in scientific language

If there are already significant clinical signs of spinal cord injury due to cervical spinal stenosis, surgical treatment is recommended (1,2). If there is a narrowing of the spinal canal over three or more segments, posterior decompression of the spinal cord can be performed, followed by stabilization of the bony structures via a screw-rod system (3). Alternatives to this surgical technique are e.g. laminoplasty or anterior approaches. In laminoplasty, the bony structures are reinserted after decompression and fixed for example with small metal plates and screws to avoid the use of a screw-rod system. In the anterior approach, the relief of the spinal cord is achieved via multi-level discectomies with subsequent insertion of intervertebral placeholders (Cage) and possibly also plate / screw systems. So far, there is no agreement on the optimal treatment method in the literature (4,5). 1. Fehlings MG, Wilson JR, Yoon ST, Rhee JM, Shamji MF, Lawrence BD. Symptomatic progression of cervical myelopathy and the role of nonsurgical management: a consensus statement. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013; 38: S19-S20. 2nd Karadimas SK, Erwin WM, Ely CG, Dettori JR, Fehlings MG. Pathophysiology and natural history of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013; 38: S21-S36. 3. Cabraja M, Abbushi A, Koeppen D, Kroppenstedt S, Woiciechowsky C. Comparison between anterior and posterior decompression with instrumentation for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: sagittal alignment and clinical outcome. Neurosurgical Focus. 2010; 28: E15. 4. Lawrence BD, Jacobs WB, Norvell DC, Hermsmeyer JT, Chapman JR, Brodke DS. Anterior versus posterior approach to cervical spondylotic myelopathy treatment: a systematic review. Spine. 2013; 38: S173-S182. 5. Farrokhi MR, Ghaffarpasand F, Khani M, Gholami M. Evidence-Based Stepwise Surgical Approach to Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Narrative Review of the Current Literature. World Neurosurg. (2016) 94: 97-110.