A New Method for Optimizing Spinal Canal Cross-Sectional Area During Laminoplasty: Lateral Mass Gutter.

Authors

Huajian Zhong, Yifan Wang, Yuefeng Zhu, Haoyi Wang, Guoqing Wen, Chen Xu, Leixin Wei, Huiqiao Wu, Yang Liu, Wen Yuan, Huajiang Chen, Xiaolong Shen

Published in

Global spine journal. Pages 21925682261487161. Sep 06, 2026. Epub Sep 06, 2026.

Abstract

Study DesignRetrospective Cohort Study.ObjectiveTo propose a new technique named "lateral mass gutter" and investigate its role in augmenting spinal canal cross-sectional area (SCA) during laminoplasty.MethodsThis study included 105 patients who received cervical laminoplasty from February 2021 to February 2024. Patients were allocated to the conventional (CON) group or the lateral mass (LM) group according to the guttering technique used intraoperatively. Propensity score matching with a caliper of 0.2 was utilized to reduce selection bias. Intergroup comparisons encompassed clinical outcomes (Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of neck pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score), radiographic measurements (SCA, laminoplasty opening angle (LOA), hinge fractures, hinge fusion, C2-7 Cobb angle) and postoperative complications (cerebrospinal fluid leakage, incisional fat liquefaction, C5 nerve root palsy, axial neck pain, cervical spine instability).ResultsFollowing propensity score matching, baseline parameters were comparable between the CON and LM groups (37 patients per group, P > 0.05). Compared to the CON group, the LM group exhibited a significantly smaller LOA, a lower incidence of hinge fractures, a higher rate of hinge fusion, greater improvement in JOA and a larger expansion in the SCA (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding VAS of neck pain or postoperative complications (P > 0.05).ConclusionCompared to conventional guttering technique, lateral mass gutter significantly reduces hinge fracture, promotes hinge fusion, enhances spinal canal expansion and optimizes postoperative neurological recovery in posterior cervical laminoplasty.

PMID:
42702059
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.