Abstract
Long-term follow-up study of surgical treatment of 128 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) was presented Results were estimated periodically by using JOA scoring system for CSM. Factors that might have affected the long-term results were investigated and the followings were ascertained:
1) Results were improved post-operatively up to 3 years and then deteriorated gradually after 4 years.
2) Results of posteriorly approached cases were inferior to those of anteriorly approached cases only at the time of discharge and more than 11 years after the operations.
3) Results of cases with less than 6 months of suffering period, age of forties, one intervertebral lesion or full JOA score of results at the time of discharge were relatively less worsened even 11 years after the operation.
4) Results of cases with more than 2 years of suffering period, ages of thirties, fifties and sixties, less than 13mm of sagittal diameter of the canal at C-5 level, less than 9 points of JOA score before the operation or less than 14 points of JOA score at the time of discharge were worsened relatively more in number or even at earlier period.
