BACKGROUND: The efficacy of laminoplasty in patients with cervical kyphosis is controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the initial pathogenesis on the clinical outcomes of laminoplasty in patients with cervical kyphosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 137 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) underwent laminoplasty from April 2013 to May 2015. The patients were divided into the following 4 groups: lordosis with CSM (LC), kyphosis with CSM (KC), lordosis with OPLL (LO), and kyphosis with OPLL (KO). The clinical outcome measures included the visual analogue scale (VAS) and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores, the range of motion (ROM), and the cervical global angle (CGA).

RESULTS: The mean VAS and mJOA scores improved significantly in all groups after surgery. The changes in VAS and mJOA scores were significantly smaller, and the JOA recovery rate was significantly lower, in the KC group than in the LC and KO groups. The mean change in the CGA was greatest in the KC group (>8° towards kyphosis). The preoperative ROM was negatively correlated with the change in CGA and the JOA recovery rate in the KO and KC groups.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that laminoplasty is suitable for patients with cervical lordosis and those with mild cervical kyphosis and OPLL, but is not recommended for patients with kyphosis and CSM, particularly those with a large ROM preoperatively.

Keywords: Kyphosis, Lordosis, Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament, Range of Motion, Articular