The purpose of this paper is to compare the anterior approach and posterior approach for treatment of cervical myelopathy. Sixteen patients were followed up, who shared the same factors: 1) Operated on after 1971, 2) Central defect in myelogramat 2 or 3 levels, 3) Under 60 years of age, 4) Symptoms within 1 year, 5) Preoperation score; Jpn. Orthop. Ass. points from 6 to 12, 6) Hattori's classf ication of myelopathy; type III, 7) Canal stenosis (sagittal diameter within 14mm), 8) Without radiculopathy, thoracic and lumbar disease, and 9) Follow-up periods of more than 3 years. Anterior approach was performed in 8 cases and posterior approach was performed in 8 cases. Results of anterior approach at the time of discharge were excellent in 6 cases, good in 1 case and fair in 1 case, and at the time of time of follow-up were excellent in 7 cases and good in 1 case.
Results of posrerior approach at the time of discharge were excellent in 5 cases and good in 3 cases, and at the time of follow-up were excellent in all cases. The results of both approaches are nearly the same at each time. The suitable operation methods, to which the surgeons are most accustomed, should be selected for each patient. Furthermore, we discuss the postoperative results in relation to operative time and operative bleeding volume.
