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Nishimura. Mini-invasive Surg 2017;1:69-73 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2017.09
www.misjournal.net
Topic: Percutaneous endoscopic system for spinal diseases Open Access

Percutaneous endoscopic cervical

laminectomy

Yasuhiko Nishimura

Spinal Surgery Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Wakayama Koyo Hospital, Wakayama 640-8315, Japan.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yasuhiko Nishimura, Spinal Surgery Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Wakayama Koyo Hospital, Wakayama 640-8315,
Japan. E-mail: nishimuray@koyo-hosp.jp
How to cite this article: Nishimura Y. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical laminectomy. Mini-invasive Surg 2017;1:69-73.

Dr. Yasuhiko Nishimura is the Director of Spinal Surgery Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Wakayama Koyo Hospital ,
Japan. He obtained his MD in the Kinki University (Osaka, Japan) . His research interest focuses on endoscopic spinal and
intracranial surgery and minimally invasive spinal surgery. He has authored and coauthored 6 articles on his research field
in recent 5 years.

ABSTRACT

Article history: Aim: This study aimed to document the use of percutaneous endoscopic cervical laminectomy
Received: 05-03-2017 (PECL) and the treatment results. Methods: Eleven patients with a limited cervical spinal
Accepted: 26-05-2017 canal stenosis were indicated for the surgery. Under general anesthesia, the interlaminar space
Published: 30-06-2017 between the affected vertebrae was approached from 5 mm outside the midline. Laminectomy
was performed using a 2.5-mm or 3.5-mm high speed drill, and an endoscope. Subsequently,
Key words: the bilateral yellow ligament was removed and sufficient decompression of the dural sac
Percutaneous endoscopic cervical was confirmed. Surgery was completed after the placement of an indwelling drain. Pre- and
laminectomy, postoperative statuses were evaluated using the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association
cervical spinal canal stenosis, (mJOA) score. Results: The mean operation time was 87.1 min, and no complications were
myelopathy, observed. During the mean follow-up period of 16.6 months, the mJOA score improved
minimally invasive significantly from 10.9 ± 0.7 to 14.3 ± 1.3 (P = 0.0000002). Conclusion: PECL is a minimally
invasive surgical technique for cervical posterior decompression. This is a useful procedure,
although it is technically demanding, and must be carefully performed under strict indication
by a surgeon with sufficient experience of endoscopic techniques.

INTRODUCTION current study aimed to investigate minimally invasive
cervical spine surgery and the use of endoscopy for
Cervical posterior decompression is an accepted this spinal surgery.
surgical method to treat cervical spinal canal stenosis,
although the technique has various problems. For Recently, because of advances in endoscope
[1]
example, postoperative axial neck pain is reported in resolution and digital processing capabilities,
[2]
30% of patients at a mean follow-up of 51 months. The percutaneous endoscopes that are used at the lumbar
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