Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes of Preserving Versus Sacrificing C2 and C7 Spinous Process Attachments in Patients Undergoing Cervical Laminectomy: A Retrospective Observational Study

This retrospective observational study will be conducted in Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad enrolling 100 consecutive patients diagnosed with multilevel cervical stenosis and myelopathy requiring C3-C6 or C3-C7 laminectomy. Patients will be randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group A and Group B. Group A (n=50) underwent modified muscle-preserving laminectomy with preservation of semispinalis cervicis and nuchal ligament attachments at C2 and C7 spinous processes, while Group B (n=50) underwent conventional laminectomy with complete detachment of posterior muscle complex from C2 and C7. The study will include patients of 40-75 years of age with multilevel cervical stenosis (Greater or equal to 3 levels), preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores of 8-14, and minimum 6 month follow up. Patients with previous cervical surgery, congenital anomalies, inflammatory arthropathies, cervical trauma, malignancy and patients with incomplete clinical and radiological records will be excluded from the study.