Comparative Outcome Study of Transfacetal Fixation and Lateral Mass Fixation with Laminectomy in Subaxial Cervical Degenerative Compressive Myelopathy

Abstract

Abstract Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a chronic, progressive degenerative disorder of the spine that results in gradual deterioration of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Degeneration is the most common cause associated with myelopathy. Surgical intervention is dictated by clinical and radiological findings, as well as disease progression, with the aim of relieving both static and dynamic factors contributing to cervical myelopathy. Surgical management includes anterior and posterior approaches depending on anatomical and radiological considerations. This retrospective descriptive study analyzed 50 patients with subaxial cervical compressive myelopathy treated between 2021 and 2025. Patients underwent posterior fixation in the form of transfacetal fixation with laminectomy (group A) or lateral mass fixation with laminectomy (group B). Each group consisted of 25 patients. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square tests and SPSS software. Both groups demonstrated comparable outcomes in terms of neurological improvement, stability of fixation, and complication rates. Transfacetal fixation offers advantages over lateral mass fixation in terms of cost-effectiveness, reduced number of implants, shorter learning curve, and lower complication rates, while providing comparable clinical outcomes.