Study Design Retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data. Objective To compare preoperative and postoperative
neck pain following
laminoplasty using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Methods Seventy-two patients undergoing
laminoplasty from 2006 to 2009 at a single institution were identified. Thirty-four patients with a minimum 1-year follow-up who completed preoperative, 6-week, and 1-year postoperative NDI questionnaires were enrolled. Demographic data and surgical data including estimated blood loss (EBL), length of surgery, number of
laminoplasty levels, complications, and length of hospitalization were collected. Results Mean age was 62 years (range: 34 to 88), mean follow-up was 17 months (range: 12 to 31), and there were 21 men and 13 women. Diagnoses were cervical spondylotic
myelopathy (n = 26), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (n = 6), and
central cord syndrome (n = 2). Mean EBL was 120 mL (range: 50 to 200), and mean
surgical time was 152 minutes (range: 70 to 240). Average number of
laminoplasty levels was 3 (range: 1 to 5). The open door technique was used, and 24/34 (71%) did not have
laminoplasty at C3 and C7. No
intraoperative complications were noted, and average
hospital stay was 1.6 days (range: 1 to 7). Significant improvement in NDI total score was noted at 1 year (p < 0.002) and in NDI
pain score at 6 weeks (p < 0.028) and 1 year (p < 0.007) postoperatively. Conclusions Patients having
laminoplasty experienced significant improvement in NDI
pain subscore and NDI total scores at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively.