Cervical Radiculopathy Caused by Hypertrophy of Facet Joint after Open-Door Laminoplasty

Abstract

We present two cases of radiculopathy caused by the degenerative change of foraminal lesion on the hinge side several years after open-door laminoplasty.The two patients were a 69-year-old male and a 62-year-old male. They complained of disability of elevation of shoulder and flexion of elbow six years and three years after open-door laminoplasty, respectively. The radiculopathy was considered to be mainly caused by compression of nerve roots due to deformity and hypertrophy of facet joint on the hinge side, combined with posterior spur or spondylolisthesis. We performed posterior foraminotomy and obtained good results in both patients. Posterior foraminotomy is useful for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy caused by hypertrophy of facet joints after open-door laminoplasty.