Volume 29, Issue 156, February 2025

Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy - a viable approach for cervical radiculopathy: A review

Karol Leśniewski¹, Kamil Gibczyński², Karolina Jabłońska¹, Aleksandra Jeńć-Magoń¹, Anita Król², Michał Orczyk¹, Martyna Orzechowska¹, Piotr Paluch¹, Aleksandra Roztoczyńska¹

¹Kolegium Nauk Medycznych, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski al. Tadeusza Rejtana 16c, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
²Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny im. Fryderyka Chopina w Rzeszowie, ul. Fryderyka Szopena 2, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland

ABSTRACT

In recent decades, posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF), a procedure addressing cervical radiculopathy, gave its way to anterior discectomy and fusion (ACDF), which, while effective, is associated with both early and longterm complications. Whereas the ACDF remains a procedure of choice, in many cases of cervical radiculopathy PCF is a viable alternative and the purpose of this narrative review is to evaluate the literature regarding its efficacy. A comprehensive review of the literature was carried out throughout 21 studies from 2010 to 2024, including clinical trials, cohort studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses that evaluate and thoroughly investigate the efficacy of these surgical approaches. The results suggest that posterior cervical foraminotomy is a viable option for the management of a range of patients with cervical radiculopathy, given its efficacy and cost-effectiveness compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Revision of this technique in relation to the clinical indications for cervical radiculopathy with foraminal nerve compression may improve the success rate of surgical evaluation and potentially avoid the adverse effects associated with cervical motion segment fusion and anterior approach.

Keywords: Posterior cervical foraminotomy, PCF, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, ACDF, cervical radiculopathy

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e28ms3509

PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i156.e28ms3509

Published: 12 February 2025