Cervicothoracic XXXX treated using posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy.

@entity1 @entity1183 @entity66 @entity425 @entity4048 @entity158 @entity614 @entity282
OBJECT: The authors conducted a study to identify the effectiveness and morbidity rate associated with treating cervicothoracic @entity66 ( @entity614 ) via a posterior approach. METHODS: Nineteen @entity1 underwent posterior cervicothoracic laminoforaminotomy during a 5.6-year period. Medical records, imaging studies, office charts, hospital records, and phone interview data were reviewed. Specific information analyzed included @entity1 demographics, side of lesion, and conservative treatment, symptoms, and pre- and @entity282 levels. @entity158 was rated using a visual analog scale and classified into a radicular and neck component. Data in 19 @entity1 (seven @entity1 and 12 @entity1 ) who underwent 20 procedures (one @entity1 underwent separate bilateral foraminotomies) were analyzed. The mean @entity1 age was 54.8 years (range 38-73 years), and the follow-up period ranged from 23 to 62 months. Symptom duration ranged from 1 to 14 months (mean 3.4 months) and consisted of @entity425 , @entity1183 , and painful @entity614 in 11, 16, and 20 cases, respectively. Motor @entity425 was identified in 11 of 19 @entity1 (mean grade of 4.35), and postoperatively strength normalized in eight of 11 (mean grade of 4.79). The improvement in motor scores was significant (p = 0.007). @entity158 was the most common presenting symptom. @entity614 were rated between 0 and 10 (mean 7.45), and postoperatively scores were reduced to 0 to 3 (mean 0.2) which was significant (p < 0.0001). @entity4048 was rated between 0 and 8 (mean 2.55), and on follow up ranged from 0 to 2 (mean 0.5), which was also significant (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior cervicothoracic foraminotomy was a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of @entity1 with laterally located disc herniations.
