Long term outcome after cervical foraminotomy.

We recently demonstrated the effectiveness of dorsal foraminotomy in lateral herniated cervical disc after 1 year follow-up in a prospective study.(1) The goal of this paper is to confirm these results concerning long term outcome. We carried out a prospective, consecutive study on 54 patients, operated on for lateral herniated cervical disc. We analysed demographic data, the case history, the neurological examination on admission and imaging data. Ninety per cent were followed up for 3.5 years postoperatively. According to their ratings on a pain scale the group were divided into favourable and unfavourable outcomes. These groups were analysed in relation to the patient's initial condition. At follow up, 90% of patients showed complete recovery or improvement. A long standing preoperative neurological deficit seems to be an important prognostic factor for unfavourable long term outcome after cervical foraminotomy. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.