Application of vertebral body subtotal resection in cervical surgery for multilevel cervical spondylosis

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of vertebral body subtotal resection with some cortex behind it preserved and conventional vertebral body subtotal resection in patients with cervical spondylosis. Methods Forty-three patients with multilevel cervical spondylosis（29 males,14 females） underwent modified vertebral body subtotal resection from 2005.Their average age was 54 years（range 34-76）.The patients were followed up for 1-4 years（mean 2 years）.The outcome of patients after operation was analyzed according to the JOA score.Bone healing was observed by two-dimensional CT and X-ray. Results The JOA score of 43 patients was 9±2 before operation,13±2 and 14±2 1 week and 1 year after operation,respectively.The symptoms were markedly improved in 41 patients with porosis,and no improvement was found in 2 patients（postoperative ischemia reperfusion injury in 1 patient and CSF leakage in 1 patient）. Conclusion The modified vertebral body subtotal resection for multilevel cervical spondylosis is simple procedure,which is a rather good combination of the two traditional procedures and can thus reduce complications and help bone healing and avoid titanium mesh or spinal cord compression after bone block transfer.