10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF C3-C7 CERVICAL LAMINECTOMY FOR GRADE-I INTRAMEDULLARY ASTROCYTOMA

In an eight years old boy we operated an intramedullary astrocytoma gr ade I and reimplanted the laminae C4-7 en bloc. A good stability was a chieved. Ten years later only one segment remained intact, the others showing spontaneous fusion as a major draw back. This is possibly due to subperiostal dissection and bracing. No spinal stenosis occured. An overuse of the remaining disc C4/5 might lead to a secondary degenera tive stenosis. The operation is simple and might avoid swan neck defor mity in children after large decompression of dorsal structures.