The purpose of this study is to compare the frequency of postoperative axial neck symptoms between patients who had undergone C3-7 laminoplasty (C3-7 group) and patients who had undergone C3-6 laminoplasty and C7 dome fenestration (C3-6 group). In the latter group, the muscles which attach to the C7 spinous process were preserved. As a result, the frequency of postoperative neck pain was 22.2% in the C3-7 group and 8.3% in the C3-6 group respectively. Neck stiffness was observed in 33.4% of the C3-7 group and in 20.8% of the C3-6 group. Although these results were not statistically significant, C3-6 laminoplasty and C7 dome denestration are considered to be effective for decreasing postoperative axial neck symptoms.
