[Efficacy of operation in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopath in different disease periods].

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of cervical spondylotic myelopathc (CSM) in different disease periods after operation, and explore the best operating period for CSM treatment.

Methods: Eighty-nine cases of CSM were included in this study. Thirty-eight cases were treated by posterior open-door or twain-door laminoplasty, and 34 cases were treated by anterior "opening window" decompression and auto-iliac bone graft. According to the disease period, 89 cases were classified into group I (< 6 months), group II (> 6 months, < 12 months), and group III (> 12 months).

Results: Seventy-two cases were followed up for an average of 18 months (ranged 10 to 60 months). According to the JOA standand, the statistical results of the postoperative improvement rate of showed that the shorter the course of the disease, the better the surgical result. In patients operated on within 6 months of the disease, the surgical result was the best(P < 0.01), and when the course of disease was beyond 12 months, the operative result was obviously poor (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Patients with CSM should undergo operation within 6 months with no contraindication. Even if the disease period is beyond 6 months, patients also should be operated on as soon as possible.