The effect of expansive open-door laminoplasty on spinal canal diameter: an experimental study on rabbits

• Published in: Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 118 - 121
• Main Authors: Fateh, Massoud, Saygi, Baransel, Karaman, Özgür, Bezer, Murat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey 2013
• Subjects: Animals; Female; Male; Neurosurgical Procedures - methods; Rabbits; Spinal Canal - anatomy & histology; Spinal Cord Diseases - surgery; Suture Techniques
• ISSN: 1017-995X
• DOI: 10.3944/AOTT.2013.2862

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of expansive open-door laminoplasty with simple suture fixation on spinal canal diameter in a rabbit model. Twenty white New Zealand rabbits were operated on with C4-C7 Hirabayashi open-door laminoplasty. The spinal canal diameter was evaluated radiologically on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 1 and 42. The mean spinal canal diameter was 6.42 mm preoperatively, 8.04 mm on postoperative day 1 and 8.02 mm at day 42. There was a significant difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative day 1 spinal canal diameter (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the mean spinal canal diameter at postoperative day 1 and 42 (p>0.05). Our results suggest that the open-door laminoplasty with simple suture fixation is an effective method to expand the spinal canal diameter. No recurrent narrowing is expected in short term.