Influence of laminectomy on the course of cervical myelopathy.

The pathogenesis of cervical myelopathy resulting from cervical spondylarthrosis seems to be the result of intermittent compression of the cervical cord and its feeding arteries. In the literature proof is given that both factors play an important role. By laminectomy or ventral fusion a regression of the neurological disability can be obtained. In our series of 75 patients there was no significant difference in the results obtained by either partial or total laminectomy. In all our cases there was a narrowing of the sagittal spinal diameter.