Can Prophylactic Foraminotomy Prevent C5 Palsy

Under microscopic or loop magnification, a high-speed burr is used to perform the foraminotomy. The keyhole foraminotomy begins at the lamina-facet junction, with careful consideration of the amount of facet resection. Typically, only the medial one third is drilled. Then a 1- or 2-mm Kerrison punch can be carefully placed over the nerve root and then used to undercut the facet, ensuring that the spine is not destabilized by the foraminotomy. The amount of facet resection must not exceed 50% in order to preserve spine stability.

Cervical decompression for myelopathy, including the following procedures: laminoplasty, laminectomy, discectomy and fusion