Cervical muscle strength after laminoplasty.

To determine changes in cervical muscle strength after laminoplasty and to evaluate the relation between muscle strength and neck pain, we measured maximum isometric muscle strength using a handheld dynamometer. We also investigated neck pain before surgery and every month after surgery in 21 subjects who had undergone French-door laminoplasty. Muscle strength decreased particularly 1 month after surgery, the extensor muscles being affected more than the flexors.