Minimally invasive disc preserving surgery in cervical radiculopathies: the posterior microscopic and endoscopic approach.

The aim of this paper is the report of the long-term results of a prospective study on spinal cervical lamino-foraminotomy via posterior route for the surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathies due to spondylodiscoarthrosis. The goal of the described surgical procedure is the bony decompression of the involved root leaving the intervertebral protruded or herniated discs intact. Indication, surgical technique, outcome and complications are discussed. Although anterior spinal cervical approach is the standard for centrally-located disc herniations with myelopathy, posterior foraminotomy appears to be a safe, minimally-invasive and effective treatment for postero-lateral radicular compression in the cervical spine. In our opinion, microscopic and/or endoscopic minimally invasive lamino-foraminotomy must be included within the surgical options for degenerative disc diseases of the cervical spine. This approach allowed us to reduce about 30% of the number of patients treated by the anterior approach, thus consistently reducing the need for intersomatic fixation.