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01-06-2012 | Case Report

Anterior migration of spinal cord after cervical corpectomy

Authors: Yu Qian, Guojian Xu, Jun Zhang, Xiaofeng Zhao, Dong Wen

Published in: European Spine Journal | Special Issue 4/2012

Abstract

Posterior migration of spinal cord is a common complication of posterior cervical decompression, whereas anterior migration of spinal cord after anterior cervical decompression has not been reported previously. This report presents a case of anterior migration of spinal cord after cervical corpectomy. A 65-year-old male underwent a cervical corpectomy of the C4 and C5 for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The postoperative MRI showed that spinal cord was decompressed. However, at 12 months postoperatively, the patient complained that improved gait aggravated again, and the MRI showed an anterior migration of the spinal cord at the level of the C4 and C5, and a compression of spinal cord at the level of caudal endplate of C3. Secondary surgery, laminaplasty of C3 and C4 was conducted. The postoperative MRI showed that the spinal canal increased at the C3 and C4 levels, and the spinal cord went through smoothly without sharp turning.

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Title: Anterior migration of spinal cord after cervical corpectomy
Authors: Yu Qian
Guojian Xu
Jun Zhang
Xiaofeng Zhao
Dong Wen
Publication date: 01-06-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Spine Journal / Issue Special Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-1843-1

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