Laminoplasty Using Titanium Miniplates

Postoperative laminectomy membrane associated with the use of simple laminectomy is well known as a post operative complication and often causes the compression of the spinal cord or roots. The authors have performed laminoplasty using titanium miniplates to prevent the formation of laminectomy membrane. The purpose of this study was to review thirty cases who were operated on using laminoplasty with titanium miniplates and to evaluate this procedure. The 30 patients consisted of spinal tumor (12 cases), far lateral disc herniation (7 cases), arachnoid cyst (7 cases), AVM (2 cases), synovial cyst (1 case) and chronic myelitis (1 case). The follow-up period averaged 16.1 months. Twenty patients underwent a bilateral laminoplasty with titanium miniplates (2 cases concurrently using in-situ posterior lateral fusion (PLF) or pedicle screw PLF) and 10 patients underwent a hemi-laminoplasty with titanium miniplates (5 cases concurrently using posterior in-situ PLF or pedicle screw PLF). All patients had improvement in their neurological symptoms. No patient developed increased kyphosis, instability and or laminectomy membrane following the procedure. No case was complicated by neurological deterioration, infection, lamina displacement or implant migration. Although long-term results are unknown, short-term results are good and there are no incidences of complications. In conclusion, laminoplasty using titanium miniplates is a very useful and easy to apply to prevent laminectomy membrane. An added advantage is the magnetic resonance imaging compatibility of the implants for investigating the condition of the subdural and epidural lesions.