<正>Objective:To investigate a novel surgical method for multilevel cervical spondylotic myeIopa- thy(CSM).Methods:Totally 21 patients with multilevel CSM undergoing a novel surgical procedure from April 2001 to January 2004 were analyzed retrospectively.All patients experienced anterior cervical decompression surgery in subsection,autograft fusion and internal fixation.Preoperative,immediate post- operative and follow-up image data,X-rays and semi-quantitative Japanese orthopaedics association(JOA) scores were used to evaluate the restoration of lordosis(Cobb's angle),intervertebral heights,the stabili- ty of the cervical spine and the improvement of neurological impairment.Results:Preoperative symptoms were markedly alleviated or disappeared in most of the patients.According to the JOA scores,the ratio of improvement in neurological function was 72.2%,including excellent in 9 cases(42.9%),good in 7 cases (33.30%),fair in 3 cases(14.3%)and poor in 2 cases(9.5%).Immediate postoperative X-rays showed obvious improvements in lordosis and in the intervertebral height of the cervical spine(P<0.01).There is no evidence of instrument failure during the mean follow-up period of 14.2 months(9-24 months, P>0.01).Conclusion:Anterior cervical decompression in subsection,autograft fusion and internal fixa- tion is a rational effective method for the surgical treatment of multilevel CSM.
