Operative results of canal-expansive laminoplasty for cervical spondyloticmyelopathy in elderly patients

Study Design. The study involved elderly patients (age greater than or equa l to 65), who underwent treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy by ca nal-expansive laminoplasty. Objectives. To determine the factors that influence the operative results o f canal-expansive laminoplasty for treatment of cervical spondylotic myelop athy in elderly patients. Summary of Background Data. Although there have been previous reports of ma ny operative procedures, to the authors' knowledge there are no reports on the results of surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy in el derly patients, treated by a unified surgical procedure. To date, no attemp ts have been made to predict the results of these procedures. Methods. Forty-seven patients (age greater than or equal to 65) who underwe nt canal-expansive laminoplasty were reviewed in this study. The severity o f the clinical picture and the quality of operative results were graded acc ording to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system. Results. Of the 13 patients whose period of disability persisted for less t han 3 months before the operation, 12 were able to walk after surgery. The operative results of patients more than 80 years of age were not significan tly different from those of patients aged between 65 and 79 years. Results of multiple regression analysis indicate that the predictive probability of the postoperative motor function score of the lower extremities was 70%. Conclusions. The severity of the clinical picture and the duration of sympt oms influenced the outcome of the operation. Despite the advanced age of so me patients (>80), the operation increased the chance of recovery from the disease.