Greater Cervical Kyphosis During Flexion Increases the Risk of Kyphotic Deformity after Laminoplasty in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Kyphotic deformity following the loss of cervical lordosis can lead to unfavourable neurological recovery after cervical laminoplasty (CLP); therefore, it is essential to identify its risk factors. Recent studies have demonstrated that the dynamic parameters of the cervical spine, based on baseline flexion/extension radiographs, are highly useful to estimate the loss of cervical lordosis after CLP. However, it remains unclear whether such dynamic parameters can predict kyphotic deformity development after CLP. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate whether the dynamic parameters could predict kyphotic deformity in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) after CLP. This retrospective study included 165 patients, consisting of 10 and 155 patients with and without cervical kyphosis of C2-C7 angle <= -10 degrees at the final follow-up period, respectively. Among the static and dynamic parameters of the cervical spine, greater cervical kyphosis during flexion (fC2-C7 angle) demonstrated the best discrimination between these two cohorts, with an optimal cutoff value of - 27.5 degrees. Meanwhile, greater gap range of motion (gROM = flexion ROM - extension ROM ) had the highest ability to predict a loss of >= 10 degrees in C2-C7 angle after CLP, with an optimal cutoff value of 28.5 degrees. This study suggests that in patients with CSM, fC2-C7 angle <= -25 degrees on baseline radiographs is a potential risk for kyphotic deformity after CLP. In clinical practice, the patients with this criterion (fC2-C7 angle <= -25 degrees) along with gROM >= 30 degrees are at high risk of developing significant kyphotic deformity after CLP.