Cervical Spondylotic Mielopathy (CSM) is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in the adult population. Treatment implies surgical decompression as soon as possible after the diagnosis. In this study the authors present the long term results of minimal 10 years follow up of a prospective study of 98 patients that underwent anterior decompression and arthrodesis surgery for CSM.

Patients that underwent surgery for CSM between January 1990 and December 1994 were evaluated for sex, age, number of levels operated, functional evaluation with Nurick Scale pre operatively, 1 year after surgery and at the final the revision that took place in 2007 and 2008, evidence of consolidation and complications. All the patients were operated by anterior approach. T-Student Test was performed with SPSS for statistical analysis.

99 patients were evaluated during the study, 73 male, 26 female, with a mean age of 56, 6 years (42–86) and mean follow up time of 14,4 years. 3 patients died in the immediate pos op period, 1 in the first year, 8 during the 15 year evaluation period. 16 patients were operated for 1 level, 22 for two levels, 36 for 3 levels and 22 for four levels (mean on 2,7±1,0 levels for patient).

Pre op Nurick was 3,8±0,9. There was a significant improvement in neurological condition after one year surgery (Nurick 2,2±1,1; p< 0,001), and between pre op and final evaluation (2,3±1,2; p< 0,001). The degradation between the first year and the final evaluation was statistically significant (p=0,004).

There was a strong correlation between age and the number of operated levels (r=0,391, p=0,01), age and initial neurologic status (r=0,238, p=0,05), initial neurological status and number of operated levels (r=0,251, p=0,05) and sex and number of operated levels, with women being operated for more levels (r=0,208, p=0,05). There was also e stronger neurological deterioration between year 1 and year 15 in young patients when compared to older ones (r=0,250, p=0,05). There is a strong clinical relation between first year recuperation and final recuperation (r=0,838, p=0,01). There was a 100% rate of consolidation.

Surgical treatment for decompression and arthrodesis is considered for us the best option for the treatment of CSM in terms of improvement of pain, alignment and neurological function. A significant neurological improvement comes from surgery, and despite a significant clinical deterioration between the first year and the final evaluation, the benefits of surgery are still evident 15 years after, with a better neurological status when compared to the pre operative period.

Our objective is to perform a prospective study on the efficiency and durability of pain reduction through percutaneous PMMA vertebroplasty in patients with vertebral osteoporotic fractures.

We started in March 2002, and up to January 2005 we have performed this technique in 43 patients, 42 female and 1 male, with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. We performed a total of 56 vertebroplasties, 36 lumbar and 20 thoracic. The majority is for the thoracolumbar junction. Patient age went from 56 to 85, with an average of 70,7 years.

Cryteria for inclusion in this study have been the following:patients with osteoporosis, preferably with one or two collapsed vertebral bodies, with intractable pain for over 3 months. Exclusion cryteria have been: infection, blood coagulation deficits and mieloradicular compression. Relative exclusion criteria are Fractures over 70% body collapse, Posterior wall fragmentation and Young patient fracture with no prior disease.

We perform our PV under local anesthaesia with sedation and in a lateral decubitus position. We preferably use a parapedicular approach for both thoracic and lumbar fractured vertebrae.

The material we prefer are the LP2 system or the LCO and we chose Exolent spine for PMMA.

We follow a protocol that consists in:bed rest for 2 hours, allowing the patient to sit and have small walks afterwards;Dismissal the following day, with a mild analgesic for the effects of the skin incision;Maintain drug treatment for osteoporosis;Revision on the 2nd and 7th day;New revision at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Evaluation of the results was made by defining a pain score: Score 1 corresponds to minor or no improvement in pain.

Score 2 corresponds to a medium improvement in pain, with 25 to 50% less drugs required.

Score 3 corresponds to a better improvement in pain, with 75 % less drugs required.

Score 4 corresponds to complete relief of pain. In our revision, we had a minimum follow-up of 12 months, maximum of 44, and an average of 28 months. We have observed the following results:

- 2 patients with score 1

We can resume this by stating that 90 % of the patients had a relief in pain, and a good result was observed in 75 %.

We have had some complications, which consisted in:

- PMMA leakage into the disc in 1 case

In conclusion, and up to now, we have obtained pain reduction in 90% of the cases; we have prevented collapse of the treated vertebrae, and we have not had collapse of any adjacent vertebrae.

It is a technique that may have complications, but results depend on a correct selection of patients.