Microdiscectomy and foraminotomy in cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy: Anterior versus posterior, microendoscopic surgery versus mini-open microsurgery

摘要

First, in spite of the fact that hospital regulations prohibited access to the hospital records, only 38 (36.9%) of 103 consecutive cases were included in the long-term follow-up. It is rather difficult to understand why these authors were unable to access the hospital records. One of the reasons may be that many patients came from other states and countries, so that proper follow-up was difficult. Another thing in question is that CMED/F was compared with so-called open procedures. The authors should have clarified what open procedures really meant. Do they mean open mac-rosurgery, regular microsurgery, or mini-open microsurgery with or without tubular retractors?