Anterior cervical discectomy versus posterior keyhole foraminotomy in cervical radiculopathy

Available online 21 July 2012

Peer review under responsibility of Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine.

Figures & data

Table 1 Age of the patients under study.

Age category of patients (years)	Cervical anterior group		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
18–30	6	60	5	50
30–45	3	30	3	30
45–60	1	10	2	20
Total	10	100	10	100

Table 2 Sex of patients under study.

Sex	Cervical anterior group		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
Males	7	70	6	60
Females	3	30	4	40
Total	10	100	10	100

Table 3 Level of cervical discectomy.

Level of cervical disc prolapse	Cervical anterior discectomy		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
C4–5	3	30	3	30
C5–6	6	60	5	50
C6–7	1	10	2	20
Total	10	100	10	100

Figure 1 Preoperative MRI of the cervical spine, T2-weighted image, sagittal section showing a posterolaterally prolapsed C6–7 disc.

Figure 2 A preoperative axial MRI, T2-weighted image of the cervical spine, showing a left posterolateral disc prolapse of the C4–5 disc.

Table 4 Number of levels operated.

Number of levels operated	Cervical anterior discectomy		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
Single level	7	70	6	60
Two levels	2	20	3	30
Three levels	1	10	1	10
Total	10	100	10	100

Table 5 Average duration of surgery.

Average duration of surgery in hours	Cervical anterior discectomy		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
Less than one hour	0	0	3	30
One to two hours	3	30	6	60
More than two hours	7	70	1	10
Total	10	100	10	100

Table 6 Postoperative complications.

Postoperative complication	Cervical anterior discectomy (n = 10)		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy (n = 10)
	No.	%	No.	%
Infection	1	10	0	0
Neck pain after one month of surgery	4	40	2	20
Dysphagia	3	30	0	0
Myelopathy	2	20	0	0
Hemiparesis	1	10	0	0

Table 7 Postoperative improvement of brachialgia.

Extent of postoperative improvement	Cervical anterior discectomy		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
Excellent	4	40	7	70
Good	2	20	2	20
Fair	3	30	1	10
Poor	1	10	0	0
Total	10	100	10	100

Table 8 Duration of postoperative hospital stay.

Duration of postoperative hospital stay in days	Cervical anterior discectomy		Cervical keyhole foraminotomy
	No.	%	No.	%
Less than two days	4	40	7	70
From two to four days	4	40	2	20
More than four days	2	20	1	10
Total	10	100	10	100