Skip to main navigation Skip to main content
  • E-Submission
  • Contact us

NS : Neurospine

OPEN ACCESS
ABOUT
BROWSE ARTICLES
FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Articles

Page Path

Video Article
Video Articles: Special Issue With JMISST

Full-Endoscopic Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Cervical Myelopathy

Neurospine 2024;21(4):1119-1125.
Published online: December 31, 2024

Morgenstern Institute of Spine, Centro Médico Teknon, Barcelona, SpainJFIFddDuckydqhttp://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/ Adobed     ! 1AQa"q 2#w8B36v7XRr$9bCt%u&Ws'(xy4T5fH  !1AQaq"2B Rbr#u67Ѳ3sTt5v8Sc$4ĂCÔ%UӅFV ?_Aנj- H>>,m*>fzp"TrKkr^r.|_&]|*vPuܶvoQ1mwVJUhu-I"=LniAƕ8"۲ k*ҿ[yu:.vUQ+)%F DHyVBk>Hy8jݹ q~9D4KRmzQ)^ʔ.J%k_tVi5NTjg!'ky|5asOȻ)R۸ߩFMԿ3L4j6dڜ#NIwUF]JqB/(FafJRzq3\G՛ ?~\ 6)6W4m[O^L0E&rRMض*C .]Unl-1 1r#Rj/&QɈ׉˩s6Rj=5Tg.y.·Pӡ:JJS:C8-2u]d&vUz;7p9 5VnL֢"y)">iי(IDDd| Yj0; LRfS:ktYK%*N2^m|&dğth":ey)uPQZW)gcC3Pv&MMWd&Ŵ۲mvTRoժM03*F3Yd6\8,\hݻ kߔi<k NTwSԪmljj[>->ptU%'LR>&EBH$MQAUx[$Z6vi&_a.KIQ{hyƒ j"JOC9eFҝfj;˚Ω<[3_m% lQ@4g=5$(J]Yc-OMq<Ǎ wSzڗ)k$7VIP붾ͯnV+卵*t]iЎD31~SA1éC2u)ʼnQn-Uoi3:grI8ؓWm*G zܕ)ZקJ}Y YlGeJ6cB2I NS3Q>k=KTBT]W6+SOXQgGR? telˊ%-Re\hѯ2TF"C/OJΩ6r[N.0{SpljjX1“jOsӥ;ҭhe}xu`Ք&.)yO̒ Fߑ.$Qw;9Iw2o+RVJMSOj[SoҌZ%;`d$blQ{Ro{Imڌ>3egf\O֝Uzx"䢸g+mv%Gʆ:|V[N'&ס-ޝ'kfE|K,G&˳98Juin/\\Qݿ̋v~Ǩ!rtWU d|E߫R4d}.qPw*Ӭv5YEcn~f5c%MTMkb-F>5JT,})QHg%{("ӔȸWMsYyWNRrkkJr0XドnͫT}r-jj,Ŕʍ\Q2Ri>v$5!]"JB2WɅ)]VԜUc8i|.jeRO6^V.¸ Q&#|ܶ-*uOG%JAtRZRr]FFG\۩w+?'zչSѧt jz>KW&ot{7P&2D;&\\>Q2JzܗAKSfeNn[jRrԕf6,q,F1tRfԗ>vֶևj-&R'Zi2=xv~Elbsvm8=ӛ"ū񕜈BȩlWau[]ٷBߨF~J!|Ipr3R̴#Yp)={7:G{+:\W}n|Q#%)7^-h"Ƒq:M*%J&$T軨I333׎g_- ucBwwjp[6i25$̏bU’ٱRv?G\~#Iͪb7<<}Ezt" q_Inw,7-d,G÷%T* Wg1"䥱kq/A.,_KhqŒxwvo u2ۥۧ.bQ}XκA$֣ +K״ZUNmڸII{.v{5z5ѮRme[moyƾd~cRݾK'j.\i&/S6f|b=5: p!6i_ 4j6=.si˧eƾtS^c.Y^RJVS-Vi3,esi08?H$GvZgg?gi䤟2adw릿:"۪lkSN>q-4kI܋ێe̊qۅgDoѨ9; #T.Q;7#~_Ufstb_'w~Xw1Xk,vcOt._}v}8"(4Z\ۘgk?J?bm_c!g{HZV]Fkk%~gEt)b秴vΰB|꽸}mp~E6ݹv;7P٤v+ri*3Ԣ|'O14_~7nP{7ZU\Vű[ +7󖱅o#:ǥŬ\|3r%TJX]V7ez¨Y]lc|O3V! R zbJ'PnGqVJ"19WVeOF埜EaEJωqCN5Z g-9[S<$sUK5b|7sn\7x qmv##FF\ w[=-43$^ooVSiXօv7iB۴yg>]Vf"r$J3""32!Zh[K%7GvNLs+4nB/B{vlsobJaҺJR:0g%&zR\ S3T[&ִor*ⷳc3ʊO[iozW٨%$gn:ܶWwFBԹjHP&z u&F2\f;ipW73 [; '_̽b;vib!oec dC-tS__$Xs]l9&z$2/N>%'[}b{h/{`{Ji׉׏ YJB/X%}.|+{(S:qz]4_Kѵo`^tY_4S#* ^zvݾMr+TrkQ g.8Ͽ^i>ӈǙvix>$o( ^qt*&t1oJVu-ql5U6jCЉmĻ*"?JT=K'O/|=Vo}l0b}}f?X[?/\JSBe,kP8ETJ==?.p5ފgbU9}ǶdNKk—_$8̸͓ۍ8Di\BԿ-1v{FF]|.^ۅ{vl12׏z7-R7wE?\nh\jN/Kձr_oBw"N QMBZqe-m:ӨSn6j4%!hQ;sv'm4kcM=!8\m[M4{SMliۇ%eֽR&N:{2A8)THLK3Zj[jPBx#BگMf:G1\`edcʮ?|w(-̮vXt,bW2;.ιNHRR#YwTM"<;mk\.foIDjmlJ;vxy7o7i\,KQŊ9d^Mmgc L*.T6tLeIuOH3SJQ3=F/ʿ<9\JM6mN6=<{xkP!F1QR[I$6ُimXu2An2yԒMU q f[IB-'䤯jYm52&JG\zд\~vdg QtHGXw&1Lw+nDEdC1w|YJmvP)HZ>i0BPβә?R:QO["]I_Jʏۍ>QKyu^bycBq4lXF~l [\*N>-J6,Gq(Zr5h]CwYӤU~ʶߑ u*SIv%ZfJ7)! FS*s_\|IŸZ)J ]ܜi4"z[+Z,MOZ))}|Ʀ(RUNIII.S'ˍO~˨rn}M)xxӕ0 eyҵ7YMAB]ӣU:/ѭ*6bcwP͵ "+qēVjŹO|GtY4V j[mLV M -m>",B$ GD1~j6O4|LxnNmqATNR3ε|DŽa[fmn-ڭ+FiK7Pcm;r5 l8r{#-]'nrFh2ruycb;pW=njRqRJ(d mnpckNnʹ+6]tz~E=ʕ l ZZ5jSi3#47.Lcfe`9؏v囜.F\-UZ:*0_<Νu9Lӵm&)_3\^ҹ3"1n1v_|uRʞͫr'iȧN_kH׺8xXrj=\МH)V\ˬ.Xʸ oVRC}ySU9/OBY먌5 ٿwޞ)rw8Ӫi5*5ZΗcGƱ !ZۄlmpjJ -l <R̵/JAպZuq\IdUS 48wXJJtcg4cI~aqߓwŷrm-v)G7yS^7H^-\mŌAq|"m9IBnF㏉9[N+mmy/!KKۉ%n +BdddfFF6FQRN-U5;Sv'm4kcM=Mn)\qιqUd9F%",6MGdT%-+~ f%+y֛^3SrF>6lc(֪vۊN;g._0Sѧ]ETWرkQKzGe9ʨsKA"yC y2\[5 rԭ7Gk5Mzw_4sM3hxЊ'oÍ5jsub )ͪ~tR2H]R͍>̋m6=%(˿(Wrr-܅y5(ܔJ޺YunW̹븹NsqK ]/QR#"ZMDfD|43Qw|._ԡSqTZBg??O Ϥ)/E_U|i}2 9Z?¹0:x'3,whǣ?C y-A~=daJј&M?D1_PS+Oi&;a @;Dž7[ zZC"bv:jjMQk$M RԸ3uA\=wI.AwC"^.{?-\NSiˏ"b}T/}q/ o.1M}R%:-ZniʒL$SgrBW*,Mw'N\ɇ{s\j]VryG'8f`}'N<*/`U숻z CwHq18J+vԕKss4R53/&XTt1bZƟo\=%nO)h$rBi-nKĪ^ ջڜlwkYm[̑+/QrZo%TQ;TLs($2C:s.%+eoNttq۰kK7O0m_t_pZ1SsSM7"mevFZ[w -FJ*T*jФQRg BSu|]g:ɵzjqwmltL.e3sRMچkSmjkmWœިm++¦'tILk*բQ D,PB\lI[9{%Gb R6öۍmX-MaʉA931cs..G4CujQտ[9 }G-xwl)IQz j Ó"rqe&=]꾧֎c)<kӳ+0JrRR3'TnXi^xMF Bު*tIL.[h"2"nKzZe'ZV/RrNYz]8죝n]Ķܩ>^Ժ]u-7^\mZjܣ9+Rmn ߑv?oꋘ?&ƪy^N4o=3-ؔ̿*`}V݁ ƒPu8%$ ݗ]wt;\y\>='OjPIp/nJU8{϶FNMsf"ίNqƹ(+ ݮF2Km |jܴZs%zf*eȫ?]4)I۵nR&FX + [jDh(#哑9q9Eծj8noǕZf\J-l&Z˫}`ӎhyrΉn\űn]9pʌӣ"׮Wt?N4_I_~54#/my1Xr*척aS#DT >q ssΛW;3oUaJSRMDgQnt:Ql,/ ܷfRqiM Ȼ>Cob;A>ڦWقM9X~/!'MW.}Vrߔꔵ!5|iB(0-zF=}okڢE$^wW~nokY߮\6՜̌{i-AF*9)\t9IV6۸5ZUF6R$ŨQIq砳YUZ]eyv >hI櫥N )&l JulwE1GDOuFN2| }馥uC1rޫV+^gdb&W[4<^e4YW,d|htͮsUM)۸8:{3d{AѢ)~ \#J=NdƮꮓ90 |1K$v*?мS ]i$J,C,SG?/_՜pMSƯM|mG1V1$~K>CSvkuj=&) -,yLjuFHK{c駗.SOua;BrSqj-ۍZ#'Jys7[g2z/.u4+XV2VQ.ޕ)$"(%)#Z7suZ%j }BǬݕe)Jvz8zJf:hIN|svO1O#IEcۍjݽ:SdὮvu^@:o^5cs>i/VqmVm]ؔܢn6'vޑ̗J4Wn@OlKbX ;n:hgJ9ŻyǑz8f܌q&Y fN0N;[69 rbׅC2/#kE l&2~èMR.*%g=Ft.%؝e8<.e=Uv{~㻏"EˑnvDѭ͜Lu3u0:U֝$[M5<:oi+V4V9 6nXvx&_ q Qqw3W:uϔ2yb/(ɳ|5zQiJ#r|Hw#.W?4aDŲ\ugWG;Cw鐢K|xg)##=O.dF˟jMUvWĻsr.z]kPc9"]R)mkfOd*uYf١RsB Aîh=k]ʳUrrZsq`d#r$/Ը3o^&lRWȍyuW̦Y4QDUMJ65ƒ[+ygk XK_±k#y:8(TJOSQhJt2.DR}"5[) r)6V6u5k:eXZmv𭤔!푊Q[qQ}ҹLE- 8qIZG|UM4j}Mܕ[Vwm{} Naqµ"ԈM zOpKѰ?IAD3Ir0'/q1itoB5{%wkOBn-ۜduqIzYK60{+DʕܞqIt";r1mG/\/ym[6JƫR \L=S=OT@Ix[TMm{>ݾտ֒ݸӉLYIx>+"JVNzx||5rI?C{oz8۹e\R-^\A2F R+N9 vlT]"ۭ d)t֞i #E2jB@׵=#/N+!ĕhx}I!cM`ąZ*ŻɄҒ߮Y.Z}='/oۙ3IpW̮hT7cTSuz9>B}΄&h!>lӵn~j˅IvU.'v'CSZw8QK3G> ,J59ٷ+HSg䧎hJdzvwv-cvxS5[̊n~ؿ%ַX?O0\6ne 6kn9.ϯ} *h 8_QhLݣ7q +=XBҲ5?[[)+F`=4 }B,sNg==u*Nj9k_GJ)+R~GSPBȒZ:(K]heL=vKPӢwq(NrG^ثϣ?#tC?.ͼ[ۅo؞y#%ǛjVyLSw%T*s92JTM%"YkQО.q)gCͲn8cgi6j1MѾ[{9h^vƘǚםidfi.^RHmg&rׇz:}݃}xT$ضk'5s-狶,\vpbPD،=Okf.c#cdz2FK5T!&)|ntD<+OŹU i-G[EE*FDfeaf2QƤM\UG_{ǹm%\yrGy:.\4wjPGUJޕUV7Do\7Vy_13w;[?c]H\$IJ,*L]3b%L{y.JRKG2sq,B6T}(#nW|km+q5] r㪍bJ@y{byz,b踊3ϻJ,'^xd،)JVw#.Vټc''ÝպWtbRؒJz۠8!o9IۄS95E9ؔ-e9JR{dmnッ<[~n${~Њ$W?&ՐY_? #a.ߑv?oꋘ?&ơ|y^N4o=3t=~7!/M3>n8W홎2M`Qx+ z qy8%]7_~540ۦ彷]Wq CѡwkďyF5Dum_}~P(5.(X,K9vᯐ?leB9;Jhm#3{CxGE-S{;@Fz˙]=O'!ɿ]' r`:7'2bЖ>Iy,/eTy/V<.H?UYY{\^#ѣr9^7?xoRȆ7EoS_&??zϾM?(~Q-K&>"~aߨ t7Emsϛ+?;fCr)fY+>z$tIkjn_>vnrֳki-˹l= t;'EyC¥|/BLwBJdgjۛ$s S1|ɍV%JI6KvəhzIlBYɒ|0"Sy0F>eo5W)O+X˻u';v)2vVq۳kۮws?UʑBǴYO漪e2MIjPAک\b1)DDؚKm6ZWΨgȕ۶yjڳ 2ضN[C[|r@9Jfo<_eI7q.|cÊV߷:i.:$ȋ)1%%)ADZCEBxJ0MJۥy(bNsKM9k43IwNt.\%N簤I'.j|ƃ2$grBEٌ\}9:v*!n7M(ɽ]7c@XxƱԨ37īf62cTTfFK]9wntQHͮvٱI/f|j=7}\_V5U^+:uljSȃY(XI.ȱmo1甅jڎIZ2>#\*:gY|4k\8ZwSqtyA!+];бޞKծË¥e)#5ap.QK^8VdU{*ѽL\=qmjnB5>{ Ӟ`v±5 ^k&O~Oshɷ,;6nOW>u6{RqS`)S%jp\ipdEBLfTWy$GIYw~䲭J.1vSY5z.V>^+Ǎvc.I[R{QsNR3ӎfhd>y?UJ*}~[e\i5U^͛E]G_FS(Iɿ]i8:4zj~շsW,ˆsy:%O}iur]iF5~3M:Ӟ#N06)4ߧgdawIotiz:1r5YDZLHBSi;NQc44la=Y kQIT*ըl:tq2(է9VO4뒳܂~2rq'nrVZŦ[t7\oլfb/mlpc.I8콚q^1iE~䰳mi[dۧw֤ICfdFeCsg:i| 6擣׋* 96lust^{%99UNRvaMܽo ammi$em4D6DD\nA%$$#}۷/ݕr99JMն[oT޲E"KTaP+HGkŴj5TM5xƱOS-k`ۛkٝWz;{kS}F;~q|~^_|euwnE'pSupUP)V]vE+t =ZRaVdG6= *.ϼnj9:UɷbېmF_tޫgHjVS'śǕًdkkѻ_]Kv?nT>)^e=Ar1'3ԔILyD?:-^in):{7.؂\.:V }#뺾.3r̸*xbFM aȵz 6SQ:ײj[ 8nn iFMw rR"5M5I旘35f^j='j:nNW.ʭocZvZKV^ɚJ.cM1ZI7E'6rg탸5oZ=[m Z`\hbMUR١Ȗĉ):Jin!_7Dй+f̷eKҷvͨBPR(V`y6tw*MRΝcB.ڭTnc;P$8nFvm4(D(R#R-L -2:FP lxZKQc6I("Km%$E, 78uXIFA$RQI$JbInG]c[ֹ:ZM+n^')JmJMJRu{e)7jQDw~%yQl}BZujSSf۩QZ+Dzhd5o%BIc'GZ?}΍:>Ɵivז-%݌J5MqGWTVʦh݇ܟ~Օ_6 n'{3~mϬj'J11OȻn߃r Qr\3y٘+WӍ'WxEs^O3 o~[|7>]]H9݇ZomT@]?5B:Z߂'`V_+/MSKX߆ޠk3?o7y:4R/7þ] iG߬aBRU&?r&/} cQߥGj2?C5Yśe7hU=?+ x龳f-܈czW^7p%-(\D4h{UK&ӡn^m]Fݢ:`δvj俜F+) y[{{ 7 tu>gvrěOj'5 iRg[ͶFjGe n~qT$ci ۚ0oԹc*jL[sVWqj\ݻ&6"WoK:cnWmrv)o>66(F>=W^bf#c zzʞtپy%mՉPël e}J.\Zk4ttt>oEM=q)hJjI=ͥ(%]脼_88ф;͛gWG;Cw~˘$4=uWdĜTثNDkiQL9U*O"4XP`02,Ge-k5$h>ܼ]3vr6!9RQPIVSnM(ۓ{>;/Qͱv{3&-[rc)ܚI$n{Sv3[j00)-D3z}MRzVQпj,T[uVs0\}Sid;r(ݝJ>æʺL&c[jPK0~d(FKÝW\m]GTcF|Iׁ)I3~#oX%vҦEݑؼ5Żv2qAZTE^..M{ʐfȏ2##.R}*KʛZz^ӞN*lPťLf\G6[WVQquV]XAi)5J!,$iJ6o$tPZc;Kjx_n3`qIelV~vLy{fn匋Ѿn%;zV.n'-ұdd2߽1bZksPe3TI9)$ԩIN9Vơ\=2885N\ p)/a柛w9g_lױo8ݷ iixJV& ғRi{N^_oAŮE6Y7I$Nk$|Q)-*4Z)^¸%4Qm [I%.c-OV+C֧R#%ѨCe3i;w$G+_dy| Fzj$DI(=OA gj%v/]8qԯNIS*֩',Q%\44ZZ%D|Ǧʴ6&vֵI$%8(ԬƾS&#Z. }6z?b/|Jl{ץv&mpx4Z$”ڝ4-H%dGKfM:sKSRWeJAn]>s6应-W9'H]'uȫYvgK^\czp|My\鏩w/ËQ.)]\QiS`8uL뚛̸=J"ܻi\å'-)54Ue]:K\퓡vK xwBqrH\*֕TnzC.mT=t-H]SČ~Nu╏NÅ3f|͡G~B+Xm[Q7U{9"~jgK Zoʰ7"qJ,ekSeNGgϳ] ^.6:s}_,%eRg<5⿨z{ZPun#jRІ.6g T.!]xa c#jN$Zpl̋H WZu8WmMRýsĮ?Mco~sx TU҆Q :KDG4n42.<3/'^?6/ܠڒ^yrrÿr2\D}}B]^E~^T cɛ7϶Y[<֞[7d}2%QPqOLEQR\CIsj1?\}%tJ0e~ *sk"*)&ۓEi#{1J8Hrt|'ܝRr8)=ƔN'RVz:cf]F7bZyZUȘ4x8,#JG̒?.W9XnO]KO]%]ƻ O5Γ/3qÓj؍/r̺rƵ 5\&m6h.xoeX[=<3%< lZ"2h\Z[&jW3ejm?k&[]ųj+{N{66leu_+lj]q* 7g*knأYv= q ەdxЬZ|%GUrQ3jLŒqET]1% qkXYūYc[7Ś]QY\jko\</Lc7+'hMSUc6qXyؙ~6#ѯv.0$BQi5YyIhɍiy=KD!n3Vm[V%W-B%swa97ajۗ m+9~]fKq|Ddaˑ0A]_v޺mM5* F-BYHJ5}q>ʉ.6hyDmpD׬'-_v5;5[8K[viJ.3dR:oYHHh9I7:۽fi+wm^ [)odPѱ52CZUJicSw\&_s0uBȍh32džzQflcd^m|7GѹE!fO5]]H9݇ZomT@]?5B:Z߂'`V_+/MSKX߆ޠk3?o7y:4R/7þ] iG߬aBRU&?r&/} cQߥGj2?C5Yśe7hU=?+ x龳f-܈czW^7p%5|Y:SJE\U-(a_cƣUǽXXKiȞNlmۊڭڄR!**ܤMeȽ$|X5(Ź\rJ~ܮ]>'HB0cp XFr_c?f?7<ukSgov¥iG>>䙗i.+t+bOjIܶ . i^:nm}s}(3>NZ$2Qg([".>i.ƾ)B̋M8+"- >eE6DݥJnJˣt׻ 5.˅nJGwZD~!i۶a,Db3ZQ3O#KO5/֍ozuK'GbRi᝘NV_ҝcvם ZoX}F6z 7e5_e:ۓj=AB+iܔERadMBq*ԯ DwI/Gy*mĥiRKg6skY/#SN4e$-yXM YL?^ĸNNӪ{$r1JJRSLO]Aqm>V/s[~i/j+m>z}eI"Qvp]{ZԼ:{vPAG2=T͡@ڐ#u"E*>C;o$~C#_d/HBq^YRٽzIKbOm\~żjFFGdiQ(*/i*#.FF]©m=BmpQQQSP&Ҫ!T&^>:y)$ˑÐFčI Bӡ-t!bM WҦŶ'UZ=}zvn~oT/\ǒ'nr8 AJIӆz<^uߖ4eFC1i+v!3qNyߕni?4JZlmYFXFۼO0B\m[ tʄU3s"Sr(NJ;SKW72L4̏BVdf^Ҹj\]ȱ۪(ӷm?J-KEmWڽ^4<8qu%9pŹW~877ܾeVгS(յe^C]yX͹! םm4FGȋ\y'Z FX7e)|Gjt߹#gb\ŧq_([R8[qU$Z (ʻezV2V!iQ,i$JE˂٩ a(GK'O{vnBvryRd-RK4=qxZJMl_CuuIz @Rt㮽޳!|68\-l[џ84-2Pu" RJ_^OL>G1~XnBŬw6J0*Uvlږ1N G1q9IUm*'oWu][&UyYZbBZRZNfEJf"+2nF~Eû7n1xv.RUM$6 lAxSQJ&n5ܞwlEói"#>4׿Q.nEq7Oko[1wg8ZQwZYiqtm&~">Bo?w͡ni2峋NCEy Ҕ+%ZJ ʩq*fpˤl,~^Mχk1+:ݕ z&Y`KLӪУDr3[*Z :(SL&ݻ۬Vqsyԭs x|iI߽zZrg.:mp%6ԜvgmpIUt;QbS.Է) ǨKSV,*lڌ|5Jt3#NP.=+OZ~/G سIgbꥹJnl_DUM\iM!֔wVZuԺ,yV.Q>f v:݇WiaŸN5Ҕ[M7SsrvǣrMW= \8ZW-jsnڕ.ZnF2qt ً[ٻޘY۷Zm"Jxr&NAfA-݌to9s359݆mZ+N1-qS$D=17 x׵+%_ ve4ir6Z$FDڗnFtOr'7'{9C˨ꤡaYoace{Refnft RR"4%ʌm:Sj3)OdInTO>X'vxV#jܮw9Fog;5.~Y5\~18YQܹvj4+~t7S ﬕs %^۵ڴDZV69R^Y+rj$ԇoJKR5wB9C>Y:l+EǎS{ʲ{T6Wi* ^^9k/y/Cs\g*qڵgn4T8mERr|Ti+iPe;;.i\EBEJ 丬i9ɧM-ԼsGDrZ>r#R>~X9y4b棇9JwV۔%m(b[Tjvl}۩~nDԺ{Zo-YuK1vx.nWuO+jN [ٮ0%"΢CdTJK-RަH"$I(*ve &҉FzB,_Vpqp9m8werv')E;o&QE׵^d9˦j\_,ڵugZȻ̧8k+jK{wmr@3ӭ2 wFkzFVqs1؛.v'I%$[iT]D5Dl2 nk7qUxԫLS+sا3/ΖeZYK<["%-g/kRs:f3;*E ت wJ%)5&+&rw*霣i|sMҴ|;R+fm䡩.!**dӶ-6s6,]zAXMWjmnz%SJߴm2UXw7MQ%<!tKys#P,W>s;3IYwx<+i_\\\U6 u7P|xbn_k&ӓVOe䦒 VUr,-㘘"-LZeOSҠթrEvq8Kf%5%&K"#%vD/.ZYYŏ+p$nZkvއuW9㓱Z G wYIFyf)?ƎUm5ԉ/'k84{KO:rQI}XRuԪ|*lu)3qZ[mSm5R3".Xcَ5c®ࢫI*۳~wRϿQWޝ(EJrri&ۥ^ʶ齲Im|[yb;mnm֩uiܘq>E+Ikx߄3r33-5𹻖09ϖ9[Tz~mr5NsWl$oPusޛ^{Z;);sڹf\3oٹZmԉ/'k84{NO:rQIBø8Bݱ3n֤DiK4u& ofSȒܩx<˘|N0Fչ]qsp"}! QWw@t4ӭ+cO5%]'*{eM߲DRO1y*q8w++e!c߶ܪlZWّM欼 CQ̼빶lX{vib/V/ ai;x6~]+z]MWB>re-:lgk}պ!#9?%܋V-c[z!W?c7YNm/jRr[HOzԻefճ0q15Zp#rkQQ0tU-AmڵP/cȕ?0cZYj;:0ZM=D6g ?'UN+ձ[K ܖB2'xq9{|۫N0ku 7xaj;n\ 2[VznMlWiKbSk))f..)Km)&bGZ=>OR܍W:j'rM'wYz&/鶧{Sʵb"vջq[I-ՌZH._x*BagC'T(Q:$ͳQcMCKy?3g'ߝqnT);qs #ؤZ}OOI:cfnc8W~qy.;^pVl]Hԓ>^H^@7-AA܃nmL(uWܻS߿ Td95Bdh4t6*dDh!EhI[iŨ\L.&Nc ܮf^;$R)\rip9I|ٺ?#R.ZDZ;/]nݻqs\QE9M&Bd ]N mN*D>tgbK>+ˏ.!23]BȔR1ɝ^j'k2ƮqBQq[$di]icV/e`޵B.FIIJqbi>Ӥ|p; 6${)RU>_e}^dzdfzi %ekRVUS?6'hׂ)5.\+qUgzE2C˷ecŏ^֔ibk shesFWJ#~> Wk~ݨ}ڶ>ơǚ)׽ZƉo~B-ڼrvoE:Ʃ3ۣK7+Y`WirS):{>ڛ}:wԨ(J_";6R%[u&ƫdZ_\'np| RJwNeTW,=rrbnkڄ[M3ܴz)3- R.?:okۼ0TU'w{6&w7j1z3ON'fGoO?)S_bQ_¿R(^ԴԴG.EtMڇ&RUiW uQjU> Kiu1d<ѥIQ'RQ1:O/lŗᏩiʂv&Jc{D5 Tt)1.n[n۶X}RjqnOʽ(~[Ns{ސ⛌uO,kgo֢dRNQȄ .'6W!׌P朼tdZjFGE"]K@'i۪N;sI[{SOzk>`rRR+!σj8&TjlvA̷Q?HyjyLHNտJMjܶT۽lG?SnKN%<‘ nq[N0Sq[Ta(&t(|HGO~gvkݻTR4&Z$#ViOY1r$6YF?e4U/Mvxų:zbU^gQQ+NW_'4jfz^c'#`rvrڡ(IJ/J ݦ6 ]-CW |_{v*_q3^DZ}Ic6Uڌ8p7{crZq5ki`)mU6|-Z5^iEz3P=:Cu7DF'k%}<C-޹ֲ̱#\,(f88%X-N(ck0VLR~} G"-8ӏ/ϰKq?(#nrVTmZ;zióM4 m |UT'C^_1X.gXM{%ʤd 4\ovN":"y-,T)fLQgۢr=/CƹǨJVr[a+!rT|%Y\ٱzsS>jͱ.oOc6f$q% ǒGo;n[];ߎjrk{~\VۓNIGn:iqxo |~t5)Rxעri{Vi&NUOl_ѮMfsޕkЄay.0P{7N((BaIP$ K"U6Gl ݙqJRu+qN$ m#*p<|{:>-Ev=86N*MM긭U*uѾ?/^o7;'u,h4݌xښRM:5.(/ \իU.{F^rmF-Jɷ.>Q"[4xT^OZ~mK}T0ݛ^SAo9u?lX(' qj%=X}"^e4wˠ|rܫ 6I\Ķ;Ӻw!'ڍWg{ i U_9Avhۣƾ+:vs/MK[ɭīe{`Zgb}r[i'GE2J7Nez579wRq+Un ]J.cJ4M:h箽Wxxm^ pc\wcN%'My $$| :$Fqɏ¾^қP9J6Wxvu}ݵP>Z'FFdg"-; [¢cmWkÎT8nG%ݣ7*\խCLRYZͤiD&J#'ehbSyXK|y*ӞpS̍R`[pTr/Eg)K+92{_ n3zwz'oŸۤ+sOj J:`T>Cf*lwd\fYOP"R E֢̔L4ɥ :;.b(B02rJ蠟9>V'9M%)IqnhP<%,r'P/vNSwr#w"ݨaqc(|{kd=^0jTMR2ULNz|.<|^PfY22##!,K~E BEJۜ&jRNsHަޛg\r,v؜.jK3)[EJ2ii{KEiHP^&]Gn8x=K}Wx/KI9-ϵwQ%spܾ[^R}S3$qvq8M[ ozKxcqmJ/ӿ{_}7&ݨ\f6ZSyQz& 7ۉ[8~UNn|nkiTB+4RI8'Nc%tn{!]Ȋo.nEmʱn𵵥J A+wy#+ikǒڂ;՛s85'KmE:Ђu""Iģ5p=БbTY-ͽڔ詻ngL2Q}$de# fs^o{DUUsfwӶ;s1T,ǤtޒQ\෼J=.tKU,7čJ5 N$y3kdSMQU~mO[03 $zAڟsF5^뜞"Կ QHmrR"ӳηer+ҔZ]hE-6Jmt'ޒ=O[sQj)6K}?e4v_KfZheޓ=BV[bY}lݒTTЬ{ȫvO_qpRApVŗ 6ju=*BR)g "O1yhb=tqJ gtm\b3RY+JQ^Ō֍\յ\>+uSi{=x ^w;uӘ#ĸzLn*$anok߷CBӷ}5Yqvdž<( "_OWit5:EZj2 B ρ1̊fi[n!HQF82q1牙nqnEpT(2RMoM4ϳOu ':֧_Xjsg jP^(ڙ{2%E͖j^}ZU[Q$'U) <܂%!s"m R'G5M0<+zM6qYm$ڕ$3ǧH]?o2N<8F1̻r_my[Rf59NjpzBnl7*{.QP 3N&^BLJPjAHCK2Q}$#~YMq8 k(MFMU)8MEqTy+Tʞ-ar5yܕOXw!e;q-Jqܶ䓊Y:LC UE{/t>r"lI9)3KJjϤA 6SEE$d߇3KG*En|P\ԭTn6I-ƍKTj<1H_zwGr19wF N8ݝ+a9ɫM6mhePi%mmD! """"""*1bRKrD"vnrM۫mmĽm]ӡiG~e"˩ lhRTMk^MX["Jݱk7_ޕ*DqĒ&flՒ}`W}~SմZ{ĕ~wm*/{{ѹ_-0ط#P]xlڱ~Tn5wi*lڪ (JxioϏbqKYR|!|KN53 OS222$jzww%i}>N)E+rۥ7c$Ofl/LNث\6H9: FY󡈾I)fB֔JI_ ֣^: 9mY{66㒢7Uj]:.-os[R&gMF3˸#໹kmjq^8W"PΦURjʄWa˧T!͋ lW48JB2ko+ /Nw QwQzQ ے%$ޓ7^YL|r7!v%Trܥ &|M8~ybrn[RV gSn{{*#2#ԽᢏӴHak" ӌcwҜw&RJ07ױ>Ļ =^ BɆ)v32.M1=#6%̠tҤnzqMwԣ~s*%-j|_m*.Yx9Sz=)qE4 3pk+,`=kNRڥ=B=nŔNAx)Q$ԩȧ4z3t#Z2lҮYn$S%y- JzGpu|LBV7ZW#;Wwipܷ%(6jFG5#{$D"uۭ~]֫SrD܃fҎӾ+Tu>-ZTQ& N|$沸ii>eRWݳu'[O̻j8JۻEѩ[]vni= ڒ,[_%kC7I3Nv$4ɎЈeٸoUu:[}Do5|zNq=Tre%ɧ6&~DȍF]ƞG5q m]/w/ \ʲr8=oʔe9U(W"|S]uZd#?Se[W"ֿh][-7Nu:T=)R}.;ml*5Dlf $fF(̏T hiIUU4Szɕ t(%_|2 ~6eM;TƗK[f&]LK^CE2[ȏBOd;Mi|cx,^6;sیGpQ\NuJIFTJ~đArh* B"$H쉩eXPRj?sl"ԥ)su]xpԴY%VESH"ЋJǰ K&5^Ukzׄ8kEgS2h&Se\ Yl]WҶp-ZUvi7QS:4byqOo+[̺腋[6-_Fo.6[7$p&^ _GZԸߍkc.qqoI[9m߸YxOZЦ1uoiSH)P9Uʄjcq= S>֙NeR><;+ڌk%_qT].srNO?s[=vH[]RZHRMtᩗVؾ:/~u)ԍdg%=edVrISb{6vSu=(ܥ)mTv/J}̇8 S3ad:^hBSf؉OɔLhI_1d8,L><_A0y3rXq"'(۱;mFNII.v5_(^q~X>y{3צ I*Vܛv/jW' T'NR'j%ꔩ:mJ3SB}΋!-H-RJBТQoedi9tjENenPpke.%4]#{:>mkEɱdYWl\\\'nRM4&U>?Ќˉk÷!𴪛]]5}UqG~ݏI"O~s6(Ļ)qO~h}uԕd}Q~G,oE!&G&/]_H-O=o{k\̭bkv.Ô܈+;arZx)m?M\3lU$mk-CFXjTv6u' g:Vn_*qk:VC A%'4JV%EY)#BғO4<e׿jQQ]yUr4=wm[K1r׵%Iũ-O}|kC;/VcݩWZ)EHdžTru]8hgĵ-;=>U_ InvTm_jBM+QiF"9*{DI/iuo(=TzϖmPQl_v4z>T*ȴ>YF;ε\t]EH4ꌇ[VrLzef 2T^V>g2~kg5~Nק;{~Z~W}&ŒBӿS2$J?~(Yœ"˲ߩ\O]: J׉ښT{mmIѩn3˧)4LdFZ/zUG>U> n 5& ϴ-KJi2o]uKljvK3$bԔҚV旧iY5.ίfi96v7!v))FJM4{jG~Jt/lUE%pTAFe4qQk\ve۽/u/Im+W')v{\-E|Pms7߮DZRr۞/mu*1ՙaB܆ -xg3#6ۥtRogʌU)׎]ZҞNnŞr}F1Nnޞ;cZ{N}ۿMiuxʉ*3qi'9KHQ$WJxXyرŔe~[v5~/jN9Q4o6rJv FrdxM*iRjMzUinHdн7ᾞS=S'7 } ̽zt7K|_g J=Lq+/Bw_\ۧx\HJUPzQ<hqF[V0x==CsU7q|^ {)Iq38$_A(VgcKu06Ƅ"%i~_ˉk QCܣB8Ku/񋇵u([w}$F|8TՠI.E !;RJ^}MɒD_q2];Ɖ{5}*n7nEInO{Mwv}&q+v [V}Ĝ@%>#dXQ$f;iep.GquixVt x6bj͵mlKقQ[T]zs/&yەnM'W}!Fp_d^Tu N{ɻ'l{խ2.sTu{W^H&;1s)Pӛ6>$mě;Łnj= fLT)>׸+qReɴ[UR\L*P/!$Ӊ3Q 'K=m~6XqW3^W+ųO_[F$rR*u"T%@O +%# ]˽!aܽz{ͷvQh쩎]hGތ5ɇ*DzJDRNLi 4:{~2FmXY-zzĽ^f=]uū{/+&c:Ma{ĝDp2m܍kHș/(--m_vݮK(V{R}.k&yƴ7i^4@3f sK3^Ř˸B=]?gt5KbZB<e;kQLpxuWC}n 5ҴepB##~q= `x]KWF {GfŲ}?G.I9pjWkU]>={7q{kO/^I3==f1ɏ%nnʫ/Zu_yXN<57ۍ'vy/"8넭M2eԷ&Y,в33%IkjMr7xf nmQkX4踼>a-GcIeތw&U=-:qnW)z¥j :WqSZvԒ#j"KrIU)%qrmRoDGQ~SYRsu*V)  ,/x)MFD6O#]z 96[Ui(JRfw'y$GeUީkdMF-ݻ98F2d[o{Rn0n-xsV6Dh|Eb2E:KCOӪv4SJCr"J!!m,hRLD| ZYFm/X~ΧfrN&4Ƒ=Z9Mh.Mܵw/BdrܥniŪ8ɧ|y%œ[M=_tj?F!z5\evM:\ ~F-sg钬OWq“iiȍ<Gi%%n2rqͻllƑ)okw7}\Uk-:&fj솘XerV9yZuʼşdFC=rmo%~ZN78X(N)_7.Εn1MpJ}62jjJdI";R5&iLԸc:jmqiQj$ujp\{;v5B񥍪Xn Ą4qOERjzN(Ga٠䌡)p*v(J7#ZۻZ8O W uONb+^Qipv9GvֽƼϯrYƖKGJQDNPhRJjᡧC"21"9ѓS1;R_O7/WGz)8fE%F2ukmvSov/iZ&/]~KmI[:^~ͤ\kMi稜\ywJt3W7 8Ʒ~ݥeFgѼw"8VVSج\뻆}ݭ/J6Q)d|)zU3>k\L=;ow֯gN3pKѫ|wmkZ$z^2R:E)f>ς нd|#׆?\ǔpV{;\$ƵE%-ͪm0S6[n< kE[}mvE4DDZ^$OZ0*$~XUv҅B@^?]so#%ojw;Y#SxxueBگy v^i-)s)zV jC{7Gt.w3v,ygg8s]aE_,*E tY5k٨h=o"m泏:\6w噓aiL׎n^c\75AGkЯ0Lf46َ`egZ˓p/k;̛]kq!ݸzpԭG"}R9Ve>ˏHUjJ-&7nrnwG*Xv\˱/vN}O)ʼn&CV͍f̵]r\PMB-6Du-#RͰtRN^)mT _}nSȕC*_xBuTkJW[`ɩ`ejvsngP ڻ.-WUtܑqԹQj)t;vN&RNũT+8%IXӃ5fK՛-d9 ]CƑm|nZ-6=Hz,*aEm W3VzRšdY~Xf׀Xx"]s;)5u*ُHB BRGS6bݶؿ 9j[1*jױga7oX CUI%0v#~\-O-Ꙛuɷ쏪&5mY٦M`LJ2qK~HZbr =N'YobI. (^ ׾{_ ?OJ`S`3BN[}5w6:ǵ/iSlt=4F*d&T4y/#. ɵim5Uֲf 眕6Y7 fơ=3dϕq뚩$qTM-%r!$@A? ޾V0c~{[{;򥧅a~ڵ»&ڄv1ek=wb MLkNAԬw-x>~/r=e73VeVN)K%Sښe"+3uXuچrn ֺVzscJ峻m}vb㶓n\YbIUBT%*,0nov=;z꣓S/nSXSpl##k9mXGrZv^Gde!ŷRԠzQyjC]`gToPov{j~KRBMY}i[߶9KL2ԉO0K#m>wB[ٍ+n[[b٦DX ݲpo] [\m5qdT()mo4Oy9Ie b][wղmM~vmi۱~t \}$яimRk(L c Cvk7r9_r1 ;zv|F@KyZ[&jEji/"6$69ml#e]9s\{ScL}Ȣؿ0q/nZ*t,CLoD߉Njǚy=Pgmu6^]l-["çUʖMlʍp-"qmU>۷uFOJ%Ǔkx 'g=睋k[3u,{³WɘݪF]ՍeFX"Oy\,cچ=w/gn Ļ]#2? vqy-gXnR.^}ݺFs{ŝG]}e|#0mjx"ƬWكm?rgU^xVB":Dt>@LRbun~ݭ,w+v⪕;\U(RYa61>#Jm˞Μ9g9XKaG='u8gf}'qy#ɉw J]We.ʲ-<+&q%s?2dњztҼn`cΤmmqMdz O[-ߩӲ&;[tmܝVnr">{x<8U+p:Ig]zjGkt,uzf}dؠoJaکqEq -(:d<պ=eKy[˗^%ZXkX[C2߱\ITTLGzANM￵i]K>UsOGDDD.ZF6* ҃V Zhz{'xp^`wo8r0h ZmJ5"jb[l=yUu7-;7IT%:jFjߖm0tzU'K)څNۧYJ)4IQ}^KWm7kSP>q;ނ#)'n7&׊r?óM{IwR\j2Qn[v pe#/tAF\ϵ225q֒om6z})6҅*oqDsMf CNIN=T S2t,_ѧ}kveMF0J\Rnnݙܹy[rUc-j{yGtkQ%s]5qB.Nw.JN1LvR Ui5J ZESQԙr):MJ+g}χ!2;q([jAud][ljVK3$ײSJI=/|&tl'*n۽f.frܥ jQO8>&Z];.|7T/C}$ڋUmP2Reҭ8hFF\L 3~e v\۫]ݝNmrnB%*]Z«hKc=BTLG :V74$=Ǘy+EX'4tn(I:Ѝ;Df8c,k1%dJ6.j6ź{N~l6&*fœI7 WAlGOu-ҢH,,(ǔe뿋쩨kM܍ZſgRvQ' 9)?n|er˭|I|-fGK.rΛp8XV1%K6mvG+tc+qE&ǸC_Nm:l=_/m5^[dߌڇ.c<%:)tQ$Ow~-aY;UJ>=F)2[nk؆?훐M=l6[4(O.]2#-H^n#->&mp5~Fӛ+|| S,xag%qkEUzUgæBhߕP(7]kFnq?֖CpruZ6*rEڊtS|*tI*E}7R<,nUU֫^I7Q*mSly%rdȓd8hE<9oHhMfNSRj[i7D[Rj݊+kდq{"$$H?p\̅S?㭻;t~R߁)^/>Qj`yt[w ԛ;²~+ߔ_ YW~|o]?x^ᯛ `ʼn;g)T@vWn]>&4lp+$D̢1l|ȨF%-}.9[}w~ ԠLM9hСablfe&QoW!s?wjLK?s7yO>(=C~_nyǜu?v3vyo oI@qV-jeES^[9WoSܝh"l2C1a͔CiJ@3:Pճw=/7ovuk+\V;lDgն<[A+rX~d;m!_s8ݖ׷;;.0llUC+?i#_crʙ1~C.\–q ul8Hܶ2m`ܻM3Tov|Bs rɵ"oLS- DКw=Tv@f'6|YlD͓Y%׵-#Ѯo%:&!3o%\J<02;K87>^vgƓ# ;ݝmz^Y6=PS39U%~ &f# }o!muH;ʲŇ˷yvP+&.7e[3'vR4Yj̗IZ`e˽3o[WU{ m[sUbۋZǾۆl6~9'V*.\S2<Sd*zY[aŶ`]C$n.v^Ʌ dng>ەZ,Mmϑ :n6nϦezWqUJ4! ۇ4R! =>>Fn|Q[{pRO17ƕ~._I''00k=b՛o}Osðc2'o\3}ݭQ^2 . R1yKȣtAݿ-uܾw!`?1Whn|gzUo[ECWwjUIן)^h#1ɭ!/Z np;o;ΗŻkXs."6E`Z1 עӐ9Kl8qd q} 2Stt;#j>;խabONŗ=fwP1j)l6J̶|gV2`y/0E˛6+ԫ1? 6}KW c\KoKͨ2ۅFw–s*TԞLיuDx .kCzWXhy۶gLu|%TnupǺl-S* PRaLnT+c+*xl.v!.U=|; !_L̎뱚U=4hm:ٯ"y)$:>%(n}X'p[ȴ ^˒4kƓmzDx \ 'NqamP7nyN݅=j7%McSڵj%STy qXymvCg{w/w=wSW5r̹u erծˊsOm=DhEҚRb#n)QOxtվQwe]I}wCa'"[ۂ-z}2UuKP$㜉ԧ:mc<Ý>RoL?wu|%ҷ&K y_!y9 ??:tq3(UU-lkS'ɸ@jdzQˬR] EVPW1DJq2n:,c|ǻ̑;y{X,ۂ.u.b˕u.tKBjQ"[S園S`ٮdNبeJ&9Ơ ~0a(Vm٘L+Jr*vڑE( x0+tp˕ n';wm-ޜMOxX>{#2%jgb2M[`K*\5@8l'e=0u+w ֘鳾{y܀:R*Ya]"Ӧ%ktynlۣ65,3gU}{GYrb;ge'TKwǘ.,rpܚV]Tr,!dp /ԺU,xՉ>s׽~W5oTh yx?xrrx?)?ilbT׬,z$Ԏ.UH٠\U1pU:]JwSrGZq8àd驐,N67QYBӢD㏙W!Q25ϸo9ms-7-%3CihO.J鯽-;MZM8ku-7k9S$8]q2E(}bۏI[DKOK}3KUB^u %Y,u.-&f#]'܆o$x`Yu,dzwM;#oKxn;\[d7}Rb+*Y䛂ZuBӱl{j0O̓}LhK;[aֶaGL{Cb#S.T[>߃F]NK"u^LUʐ_ykW?!GRj29͖qa'0[npcDvV)qz9R)PۨM^aJx W] r>];eN3vxdmĘ(5W2K1䪖weF{mE/QP6\u54x5[hۮ-Nk”i[lUgL]J}5 S:EhiUrgHl!ŒJ$pe=q^b͵Q' ?6|R\,JA ڵ"TDꈭ:ymg`B5t%M] <N_zv2_Ortٵ/i/ReӮ*7[qүqEG* m"[I:6e^p"I$jԴęh!m)]GZkcjS!{e^z}+Cѥ9;R|/ֱeiUԏCNu2Zhcٗg$ݭwvr P8*7/Lk~I'Km1+MW%Bk|oOm>-#qj*|Dbѱkn|n{v#jĮqNpMIUm(7Liz;{ҜݞڝVƚVϬ+sO!OstGvxӉ']uӎ4g_ 1^-8ۦ k!)Ύ5O;YSB#2Zzχ;<.ֵOtge~.(RC#wFZeGZٸ6FFJ4e2ˇpJT$[wgV)q6muDGJ56q\I!̗ y/I~RtJ9kJ]Iy*'FN0s.[l!fw'y(7$œ WƫgyΙdMEU JQJv̋vmrۖ.jWR_M֨djYgSj0^\y'EoECjm$ IƩK>Z28J2TiJ2N#}.s cArl嫶nB.FIJ.)۔\ZiM>/hLĸ=C1s[?YMqp|94- 鮝𦔽/k^#NT(Y LS$6˩}{;5 )B۷W$qpN)qqoot}ZDVә;7TiK|6f3h$dԄ}fqݡ>Nb򗉉+ͶO]>ߡ_VtYf79ڰիF sq~prս|QM)g%l0ocJȨHz V;Bb/kLAcfPJ,ԭ{ƍgpjNR6VSI*$!yV足jᇑ.](EܣqM\qJ2eZT).<9UB/(B0j)mtKEj#׿fDI-=rZړj|'Nڤ]k*i$5qt"ݙPM6E4ke^Z8ۏhz$Q(R Ay2zfRñnpnkbkI:=j &ΝșW?׵d{+ύM'??XqeeĽ.[o=UxFS=ӷdZwenՄ]_X=ĭVa* pKs0ބۍfJ3 gz̚i|wnxtjc¼5${(1fXQ65ȼb̶Zkn>%FQMJXӡ{TZEVNᖣimT/37cNJUPnP҂ZOE~"-Rc4^b- FEͧtf5[)S!OZIښݲ͑;tvܡ+N)AR=hCNn;wL16-:特7M$=Tҕ-.R[HٷnXk sn[ҞD-0WS9p9:-Ϸ-jѬNu{ҹfv)[Ľvwfg(ٷfe+0mYj8Q1\ݧg]Eǎvڿc!4#j5̋C2"}BRriFp7=ô\TZ:\BLfj#I22װ<;صZl j 6:l"6]۸ K'6RTѯ^ئOԓV\?$x7s#r:Oh{ց=MmuHԷd{pN /܅:UE#Yy+(SgQ(Щ)RHzw>^Ѿݻ>mK&^ '$Jۻ&w%F|xfz%˳ L~3N?Cy9 v w/{ƿ kz3x> sXv}vP"@WyC z`'톽Dw%-tt yVY\wmuPYQA0iG-2JP,6/gˢ]u.-n!Zw.N7Q]Df}Q0({a\@=i_X7gFǘ8^⻲}G MZ1)WEfO12G+=-B@z\`||w6ċj߬m}UwRox֢I &c~XGP6Qndpvܻul'V7^FJt^{b^B(L~sѣ6@߿^xqU!ڙ5|Vpvef-uӥ^3  FSDɯKD%0r}FF穛r7 +o"V8tv̖NQU!5uFd"bCr^bJ=֤fM#ʳԷP0O-9xRBm\=`r-:;~3Tl(nXtXi%2Vٛ#vwqƴ`L@"H‹qW.j,JM5B[)WܺUeZFqc'V˷1W7V̾-MHФwn8N;HPSdݷC7&2j.W\τGŎ'Vb]c.x+Rx1%C2T{myg[qU|+m:M:շ8҉yWd)ՋWS%%:iqlʹmGwݹ WnNŤѩ5(9hTٵDdGUi-)vSs2 2{OnT$Xck n:¶(lASLeȔBjμPpTb2~N2~%^k[ܗ[Jzs0ӓHBKq[}JَA-$dFQgjxxFv4r/x*Rm% `4J(&iv7SkԲmSH1YWmx 8n.k']:Z˭_W >ڃXЩ. jTq%Aā[E}amc]D:rmHRiu:uӚӢ\p(5-q%e)(۬ҖȽIf<߽pr&ݫVfY91q2ĭEQgYbTGQ&,yL+N$[q*RVۉQ=FuTܻ>f>f㋳8N6$܌n)9&»iˤsX,݅܍ȩv+sRTpO}d?Wn/Inpȸ%O]StQO|v5\}7Zwb.AIVK^:wb{[uݯcytO߶S<{8KSRׁH̏N7ۚ[xkwYy_'ZӵF+>쌛ZUĦreE9F[24De{}@:ExWs-\ǻ7K-\JNvEk%:s˙#κ].oͳ;լ7wB6nwu:$L; DkI#Wz.:Xp(˅v$Sq,wn\qIN-e<5Oe+vuYTpcojUI_ާP8 O 7&VL8z$_B-H-[uh]T{|8=qVRN-:Ij:7PUtXϷmy鉿:RIM~33ӸS2#׳GdŲ5+/Bx{(WzȨ5Y㞎#|˖+ ط.|e<o/rߔX>7s}VE.OVti׽ .5nNJO"95{#q}Ay9do]R"M6z\tnNS-D!@3N_jicWsy*5uٮRcWv/.,j}=S)j5C^> Ie =gu9ӛqjtz]۪TMoߧI!Ǧ¶m:,"[L!{qAv-o 3{"KʼnrIkfٶj2ƙ؄S`7` k6jzޞ?e5G&6uʷ2%ԒRKE*G\Npom F/V |C0.q_eenƣ<5Oh'67ɪn[SĽ{ڔjǘzs;~׌(ۂ`ܢ1ƣ` _l9Va6%UQWh~P~\F^ZHR@:ۧCJ{ôGeBh;~ۧnU J\O+n2 RҠ)ng}Kh{5+S×ܛ.1ZjG)iRȤIN 4%{oΜ/eO[Nffd ĹK?nnԼMqX'܌nZvq<ķbFnͪaQ`5 s,M_լ?-@_{w{ӺձJ}GF[%v\5[ŒGkOw/ΜM9rjË%2+rd~+󲕛C9U۳r[aJǭm|˒LAʨSCq[XMۺoubfp:t+ΤĻo ][ zt-*67kvS7D·MMCQXm;)܎n_h%]4ܙnRk!]ڵsDUF"`R, &#R_*[z*ZqFXɻ]7|۵w+'pFDەs=r./ᐚm3Hשy yD"jHCr':sA65نѮ^o1V/ f;nFr3VM)e*- s D'H݅fӧ\*޷[k<7u<-]֍Q8R h|p=WlW3s%Q %3l}@U-K6f-NϿu|ڴmWN׮[׸F*mW\%r! C78:޳vBG7ŵ.JթԚ2x)ST!řn~9 W:Wpܢ件{xf8ٳwKE ҰWxVB\qBZ 2wMb[lGSnyԚ~z9ZmያvoN2Afnݽjf>)j3 !;gOYʹK" Wftڎ+׭b*2ϻK>ۢӱeyԪXISUm[z+ugX%0lϏnvg!;t{BqPj>PyvR7Cj]O%+ݲ :qiMj6W}3vC/R=4Som]ŗ=ю, TF6U_-\6MyskwMr&Q\wjKܩyMϣUj0*}RZܷSdY3>Zjqj6TgzpA/M`/Cmл,޻feE[/+uk^Vs1W$G(JsW2ٰu*߻q*Y޵.Wi:ur5T),=0uRmho.twܖiYwrWHntvEj8qhf`Ͻpf(R&>Ki%I7$QӖm-2 ~yߗQ-앑/ x[k8nw.c㩵k}]FkbJl:{.(˩n0Hqvαp7 귎.Gupx[N`Yq'+ruU7[ү+>!xrȫoSo]OC# d^Q]\>!ƛGw^Mx"-+%vdX-:M2UR%d>%l ioSu6lsj7D P>XxHz Ukà(n^Q V>5cVtWj SEiJdznyej[lE' 3kuٌNn4JW)gB {4 j6&]' m-(ZMEz8cz>WZ6#7+[,MR-Z!4ܓtCyE|umj1ƽvƷV\;%>Q :#Le(iVz5 4ũۤUWxX ^(ҔsլB2w-V ^R+; ˂M\z+Uwr+RWY⺧~ Q*JcYSNSλUd8in=v K낫k\IRרSUaCFmϿ5̗P|u ZTԕ}>oYѲ1sfP+sQkX8Gb~6r,s>^\,mGL+7[n-E\.Fqḕcl*Jmjb5 ,m]c}NXfeVlǸJ5eˡ$4%g~N p4Y*WwW٧<8v#;qԩTut,m"#Y D\5V`\\Lȋ];LȇiS6ϝZ l>LruR\v=ǘϔDg=ԈdFZ+M{=|,[;0>RiSi4,S5}yxw&(E7&fݙ4UՕ! ~'Id)]ǽu2K-fޭ \08Vڅ쓬=Vy^^ IhyKR-B#Ըr=]mܻӾ'*Umkoy rTqT_i,/8Q^<ݤ|4ԻO(܄"'5N~#m.(Ҿ2i6Uev&I*<}҄$eNtÛzyWJubW^iBW.܅Wڮg]irO6Ve90sgv.+sV޿aޔ[p?3q*FutUo*eL\KM'EG*ZcAFfG5J 5jj=MJ3OK:k˝'NMB7m3uFҕ\-Ywg%PRqMIyZGY9|μvn߻5cWݷa^+X֥vnݘ\v7m>Fgzv"-;Ew֝}1|RjN𿊀7g#֟*GQQ|#/bo]p$>_Un9гUbn9׃ErQBU-^vDmVh'<R[fdHT]*~}3j;nvjc7s-rӳ Y8[n[1pJx kX[Jk9Mn!_Nю6x:iZ˦U |߉^Ԛ݃hYxk &U^bwKk.[jE+P(˞=9j@snCv7%c_7=xǁ<l {t'酚+1F‹l׭:ݻILruǶkL-L(K0L1&>wXB(pm;1fpnlp֓%Skidkt(U +xulo'/ڕeN r=^pZZ:Pnj8Hf"48ijY[ N[yZٻ+=  ø:3 ?^ܷ^Sr#YK[UF?CuhC b]GM')mڏsNrܗI]ljq6VB. W,UK"YX5{c >Iqā> T:n!,5l2VzCl|+I[*SrjnS6٨y+x,@>П.g+!rn9>N|W>OZT_ut Y""v7|sfި;Pclm EùN,{'fNT%U&LfH8~1v>Il}统u6P˗c(WV~H^bMU.o*oOF0N:_:6Smr_.b+|ݶYY غF,mwjv>f*>QM뭱Sd:`N{l/⎱;n-z~"Gze퇎J5S KG9!Gn;N1 ݎ h6m|S?ɂ5'WOÞ 7|7^ao @mxGmi^jϽ>01Mf0լD3-2T. VXR"ɥV Kl J O7|u?bvа;6.eߓ|[1bmRr,eRz`z 6܎-ͨku͹Fː dPhYgZUj}nvX;z=gVեTv_J }\1n7w2J?ޘγc\E 1Aޑzq;\r]]\Y&[nsNei\uURje*Qk2CSl*xJz-xٶlm+|UjUؓ`Ladqiĩ!Gd\W~fz;Tn*PdRM&T4`չSWq5k훶(N"Ӎ% V]֦wb.nUO!u*J&Oӕ2e|Z=eV쫚΅g#+/RW:طnbi*Wyo)p{:ETKؚR(RY+r웓r(IF) VmȵNB:h Q1ғ|u8E]{,'$-TR[j49l*3"I鯴zhd>Q+\BkNF=.$ZR4Nwհ(IpNi.(Gi33#33e$FXK*NdWrud[r{xnk$v2ıh+J1TQ[#JQl[tRO]LHKٮ NӍnF񨔤֞Em'MILB"ԋ%dBŋ+p̿_17jzT~4pc Vo\ƹb9Rq-'1j;8ܗ)hE%DZKS<璸Bu*%*Yw5ڻ9ۣ^z4U; Ñk\U(o~G?VUĎ:?P?_F_Kߤ~ᓾI |pr.Ok\SklRhҪz{­P .}SktZ7UQ4ڌIM8̈eaӊJZ%FFZu,KZvln廐SNFIVtuNi?CM5]+Ph,{jN JSR$IS^tSUVrORYu.9WyP6 [Kiu m!X|]Y79ӄ)\ģ)pbڳr%*&ꑶ_-H*dzk)1 V3')UAϹٶWRxe'պn۫h7AR9 EAJeGLms!%D| A 5]/Q3eb̄vnVn%za\m kZnv([emqrIҕij|""><hjJשvvǕ|Pޟs}V~2&Z?+2N&Z4w@)4iSڪ_>/JN9Hiۏuf8'It[ȲR.hZ$ȋ_Y ~U<UUO*6b)Ovzڜj\R̋.$FsQuҊj^נ䈈y<zZIuP[}Qm=C?zN(Exqu/kn S-FzKZzOסӽjJ\)F3b!r5ٝ|;6 o=-3*λ]αb\abqRi-w޵⦪~b8Kpo)Z=>)ғ"5/GTZLE-輵f7ݘ۹~+&+w/7GFI:l33fg.N~۲\2|*cnermnnM+Fq"ѪIz%j =YW8@~gc/~?N'?)«qȸs➟n=k" X“m֮VreMh2[uݖ] *FܖN)MȐ`f0 g,C9̑o;ddudJ=In13:ݒvvdMUEJLp^,6t-@͐9'{7m{-3,>hnF;ѰM)->>+Ěz!R* :`e--m7nB\u{b U>[8֪]6^ߤLʦ\DFNo$$dͶlgno8OrsQ\l̯hRo8tuNo+ CTxu!2[>ctFpeޓƻֶR"3QrQuOѳgwQr;S~)6HhZw/GgVTmUf_yt7%$];zLWF̰xy2Ʉu!MCmš_0[W6jf#a-KLi+3Q7c^qg%s<1aYIQeZf+}>;S6L0]Yu_h9߻<ƅpmiM$AVvŚ,*#t2.8Y)-Zhshü97/#Oro"u^/uFgWɺ,p:6a,^x%$Yve^3PƗMnTP&yS}OJ '덫MH^:rXԴJۋ/rI;S*,+yz1hv)Qw^ڍJ2oL׊q(\fDj:^T%vOadɂnS}ZO)N*λdaȜkG_PIEO}нa(^iQX᯦-7^)%g'SJx(.S9zVɴZ{E ))ۅi/s7 VIV-|sj0*UBTHIqRf>FP$KqN0 R̻8j\GcC}IUz\i 6F)Q{Gҧ3qSzKj-Az VЛS-zy:8*mNk|D鿓ND2u+0Yŝ7kqm·?8Ib]u>˗^_>(]vӋzv+ݩ){vZrJ2RQ몋C$z [,pp,8mڊbR]Il .f~d/ݓs㓓mͶ{mgjQwn=Oic9ܚm4Q/6ݨ[TƧ?nԶoytf{@AzT{e{[O'ZRZt~AGD?s3􌿂ՉIw'|~U\ w~di:Kޱ)U/sU%njѩ&GSP^ǝd)..!^U` 1wX[aԇSxoFV6_扐)T 2Mfd=ۖͭiZ7KK Bi9%7@<3<ճԻU,},a}FRqɛr i@ONJvK KLN M, ʖv0n-]DwlI-X6ܶ$Jʴh5O+mOI+Ra瞠\ MG7BفjYo1#͖0V`Ѱ2M?c8>-Crt*JkIGS:e#hPKx[鱼>{5m;wcն&>j-M֥^َ) 6yȜl_w{-ō̱r> U=]iw3)r*]:K]6BdCTZ|>gf}LW}[$'Y5 &c -j.z6R 67MԷFMnÌwI7w5E}o޽+K ֵy4܌ȥW"COyR[q5Ӱ͙f[v"_#q{MV6܍3"u9BK(41ӯqˇc${ߝCi6I(OmθzҜ5k^:>Jzw.>qV8{vU[ڶEm|DžBz].KHjI]x;Mɗ{m,qZXr忇2u^RO2Z}ZێS[2Jen!*NDcrBUً4<ǼMҲs1Zw57c3&ĖڻzmP*FuJG1-dN:|OU}ҵgi2t~F^^Z.VxjvŧnNNh<:]^~NN+ge^g.SԔGFe߯'[vn'(ScJ]kܗ7eJOlRrfziݮq̋S"\*U<*W]k$FջV}? 7g#֟*GQQ|#/bo]p$>_Un9;l S VvQU%OLU{οmU6bZ1MTx%!֙Q7, J=!3 ;Q,ڌ;6ͱ݅q^&ߔ·n #WbwӖX.HtG)N&d̵zpI,n cu ޖUj+VXUp[w]N o.J6Z8Ts&utxln;~HPHS/xw`G\ʡ¿rj Z^vt"[L:SD\h0sUwR,}[x^X,R2Vn< ]2YDr[SRKs8tXb̷G?Ps Tv 3be,zVz D[/I.KOEQrm'$7|[J>r S`5յwT#\w1FTz\Ԛ &"ׅhSHrD\'r]~/>p;:Piuu:"9ő=tTaS7V2rӷk7mb[^WmPp*[y.Þ6f]cizJCgRR@UVl큝.WJP1N{/\whZ ػϧӱE7|E֫Sί.x-Y&pi%v''-x6r'Ws*6=DwwUu]=C?MK [yrtܒG$!WGqJ*%SAz ED[^)/tė/g=#Omd.|^n/sl׉g DZqemqowݮRzUܜ=ڽ-o/Iۖ;qVʘgPp|mm;6zGl9.8pwWgsJ2qPbe}}UpNjٯ}7TMQKrؽtEx%v w߾8%|j;~|}pK]ơ/ w߾8%|j;~|}pK]ơ/ w&~e_H 8PL7:%ʭ5Kw&U2vwR_+rm'}C7#rWoO&HoG?M$UR7{FU]u ;# !Wk`|W>׹潇9Vn)6)*ҹ{%qV4q>W1vi#T"Qk&GwxcJBJ- Ϸ^ˁxkU}ԣ/3.;]J=<*)cS)ROK9H=,r zX @)cS)Da^ԽQ gxJI=w֣gf*TRj

Corresponding Author Christian Morgenstern Morgenstern Institute of Spine, Centro Médico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain Email: info@morgenstern.es
• Received: August 6, 2024   • Revised: October 1, 2024   • Accepted: October 9, 2024

Copyright © 2024 by the Korean Spinal Neurosurgery Society

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

  • 6,436 Views
  • 212 Download
  • 1 Crossref
  • 1 Scopus
prev next
  • This article aims to introduce a novel full-endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedure to treat cervical myelopathy. Adoption of endoscopic anterior cervical procedures has been lagging due to safety concerns and the necessity of placing an interbody cage. We have developed novel instrumentation and a modified percutaneous anterior cervical approach that allows a safe and reproducible full-endoscopic ACDF. Specially designed retractor blades facilitate percutaneous placement of a zero-profile cervical interbody cage. A 64-year-old male patient presents with chronic neck pain and bilateral paresthesia in his upper extremities, mild ataxia, and positive Hoffmann sign. He has a history of deep vein thrombosis 5 years prior. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans show a degenerated disk, severe central canal stenosis with cord compression and a hyperintense cord signal at C5–6, compatible with cervical myelopathy. An electromyography of upper extrimities shows suspicion of myelopathy at C5–6. Full-endoscopic ACDF was performed at C5–6 to decompress the canal and restore disk height with a zero-profile interbody cage. Postoperatively the patient showed improvement of his symptoms with reduced pain and disability scores and was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours of the surgery. Outcome is satisfactory at 2-year postoperative follow-up. Full-endoscopic ACDF enables excellent visualization of the posterior endplates and cervical canal with constant irrigation, facilitating treatment of cervical myelopathy. No retraction is required during discectomy and decompression, decreasing the risk of postoperative dysphagia, hoarseness and bleeding. A zero-profile interbody cage can be percutaneously placed with special retractor blades.
Endoscopic surgery of the cervical spine has experienced a dichotomous evolution in the last decade: on one side, endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy has seen a wide-spread adoption, reporting favorable clinical results for solving cervical foraminal herniations and cervical foraminal stenosis [1]. Recently, indications of the endoscopic posterior approach have been expanded to address central canal stenosis and cervical myelopathy.
In contrast, adoption of the endoscopic anterior cervical approach has been lagging. Full-endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy (eACD) offers advantages like an excellent view of the posterior endplates and the spinal canal thanks to continuous irrigation, decreased pressure on surrounding soft tissues as no retractor is required during discectomy, and a decreased risk of postoperative bleeding and iatrogenic instability thanks to the ultraminimally invasive nature of endoscopy [1-4]. However, eACD currently lacks the possibility to place a cervical interbody cage once full-endoscopic discectomy has been completed. Moreover, one of the main concerns with the endoscopic/percutaneous anterior cervical approach is that it is considered dangerous, as there is no open tissue dissection allowing direct visualization and identification of the trachea, esophagus and the main blood vessels of the neck (i.e., carotid artery, jugular vein, etc.), presenting risk of a catastrophic vascular injury.
Meanwhile, open ACDF is considered safe and is a well established surgical procedure. Even though it requires dissection of the platysma, it is considered a minimally invasive approach given blunt soft tissue dissection, while allowing clear identification of vascular structures. Nonetheless, also the open anterior cervical approach presents known limitations:
(1) A retractor is usually required over prolonged time to manipulate soft tissue and expose the cervical spine, increasing the risk of postoperative dysphagia, odynophagia, hoarseness and even iatrogenic aphonia due to injury of the (recurrent) laryngeal nerve. In fact, postoperative dysphagia is one of the main reported complications after open ACDF. Studies report an incidence of 5% to 25% of postoperative dysphagia after ACDF [5,6], including 19% of cases with persistent postoperative dysphagia [6] and up to 10% with severe dysphagia requiring otolaryngology referral [5].
(2) Postoperative bleeding is another well-known complication after open ACDF. Due to the risk of rapid development of a life-threating, postoperative hematoma, many hospitals still require patients to be postoperatively monitored in an intensive care unit (ICU) for 24 hours.
It was our aim to overcome the mentioned limitations of current ACDF procedures. For this purpose, we have developed a novel approach instrumentation and have modified the standard eACD technique by introducing additional surgical steps to systematically address and improve on the mentioned safety and reproducibility issues of the anterior endoscopic cervical approach. Furthermore, we describe the possibility to complement the full-endoscopic discectomy with a percutaneous insertion of a cervical interbody cage under fluoroscopic guidance.
We are presenting this novel full-endoscopic ACDF procedure by means of a clinical case.
A 64-year-old male patient presents to our practice with persistent chronic neck pain and bilateral paresthesia in his upper extremities after unsuccessful conservative treatment (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], muscle relaxants, etc.). He has a history of deep vein thrombosis 5 years prior that was successfully treated with oral anticoagulation. In the physical examination, the patient presented mild ataxia and a bilateral positive Hoffmann sign (right>left).
Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography cans show a degenerated disk with posterior osteophytes, severe central canal stenosis with cord compression and a hyperintense cord signal at C5–6, compatible with cervical myelopathy. Cranial and caudal levels to C5–6 did not show central canal stenosis with significant compression of the spinal cord, respectively. A preoperative electromyography of the upper extremities showed suspicion of myelopathy at levels C5–6.
Given the mentioned clinical symptoms and radiologic findings, it was our assessment that targeting the symptomatic level at C5–6 with an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) should allow to satisfactorily decompress the spinal canal and address his symptoms. As endoscopy provides an excellent view of the posterior endplates and the spinal canal with continuous irrigation (Fig. 1A), an endoscopic ACDF was indicated at C5–6 to achieve anterior decompression, removing the posterior osteophytes and restoring the disk height with a zero-profile interbody cage.
The patient was positioned in supine position on a radiolucent table with the neck in moderate hyperextension. Shoulder traction should be considered to allow full fluoroscopic view of the cervical spine. For all full-endoscopic ACDF (eACDF) procedures, we systematically employ a reinforced endotracheal tube and a nasogastric (NG) tube. This ensures that both trachea and esophagus are visible and traceable under intraoperative fluoroscopy, decreasing the risk of injury during the anterior approach. Perioperative neuromonitoring with evoked sensory and motor potentials was employed during the whole surgical procedure. Novel approach instrumentation (360º cervical set, Unintech GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany) was employed to safely perform a percutaneous anterior approach to the cervical spine and an eACD. Then, specifically designed retractor blades (Signus GmbH, Alzenau, Germany) were used to percutaneously insert a zero-profile cervical interbody cage under fluoroscopic imaging to complete the eACDF procedure. Please refer to the video and the written transcript for a step-by-step description of the complete eACDF surgical procedure.
In the immediate postoperative follow-up, the patient presented minimal residual bleeding in the Redon drain (Fig. 1B) and did not require transfer to the ICU for postoperative monitoring. He showed improvement of his preoperative symptoms with decreased pain and disability scores. He was mobilized 4 hours after surgery and was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours of the surgery.
A postoperative standing x-ray of the cervical spine in lateral and anterior/posterior views showed a correctly placed interbody cage at C5–6 (Fig. 2). A postoperative MRI at 1-year follow-up showed satisfactory decompression of the operated level at C5–6 with relief of the cord compression. At 2-year postoperative follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic (Fig. 1) and no complications have been reported.
The patient agreed in written and verbal form to the publication of this case.
• 00:00 I am presenting on eACD, decompression and fusion for cervical myelopathy with a newly developed set of instruments that allow a safe and reproducible cervical anterior approach.
• 00:14 The advantages of full-endoscopic anterior discectomy comprise excellent view of posterior endplates and the spinal canal thanks to continuous irrigation and the endoscopic lens being right on top of the surgical field. This allows a safe and fast canal decompression. Furthermore, there is no need for a retractor during discectomy which decreases the pressure on surrounding soft tissues like trachea and esophagus, reducing the risk of postoperative dysphagia and hoarseness. Also the risk of iatrogenic instability and postoperative bleeding is decreased due to the ultraminimally invasive nature of full-endoscopic procedures. This facilitates early postoperative ambulation and hospital discharge.
• 00:57 Case presentation.
• 01:00 This is a 64 year-old male patient with body mass index of 35 kg/m2, a history of deep vein thrombosis 5 years prior and no other relevant comorbidities.
• 01:11 He presented with chronic neck pain that he was treating with NSAIDs and muscle relaxants, and reported bilateral paresthesia at his upper extremities with a right-sided predominancy. He also reports a feeling of weakness in his lower limbs. Preoperative scores comprise visual analogue scale (VAS) neck of 6 out of 10 , VAS arms 0 and a neck disability index of 25.
• 01:34 In the physical examination we observed a mild atax-ia with no motor weakness at the upper and lower extremities. Hoffman test was positive, while Babinsky and Lhermitte tests were negative.
• 01:47 Standing and functional preoperative x-rays of the cervical spine were obtained showing no fracture nor apparent instability of the cervical spine.
• 01:56 Preoperative MRI and computed axial tomography scan of the cervical spine showed degenerative disk disease at multiple levels of the cervical spine with a vacuum sign and severe central canal stenosis at C5–6 with a high-intensity sign of the spinal cord at that level compatible with myelopathy. No ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament was observed.
• 02:15 Levels cranial and caudal to the index level did not present significant cord compression.
• 02:22 eACD and decompression. Surgical technique stepby-step.
• 02:28 The patient was positioned in a supine position on a radiolucent table and underwent general anesthesia. A radiopaque tracheal tube and a NG tube were inserted to intra-operatively locate trachea and esophagus with fluoroscopy. The neck was positioned in moderate hyperextension by placing a cushion roll under the patient’s shoulders. Shoulder traction should be considered to allow full view of the cervical spine with intraoperative fluoroscopy. Patients with cervical myelopathy underwent intraoperative neuromonitoring with somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials.
• 02:54 After sterile draping use the index and middle fingers of the left hand to push the trachea and esophagus medially, while the carotid artery’s pulse should be palpable ipsilaterally. The cervical spine should be clearly palpable at the fingertips atll time. An 18G needle is slid in between the 2 fingertips and inserted into the targeted disk under fluoroscopic lateral control.
• 03:13 The contralateral displacement of trachea and esophagus over the midline should be confirmed with a fluoroscopic image in anterior-posterior (AP) view.
• 03:21 A guide wire is inserted into the disk under fluoroscopic lateral control and the needle is retrieved.
• 03:28 The needle is removed leaving the guide wire in place and a skin incision is done with a knife.
• 03:35 A small, cannulated dilator is gently inserted into the disk guided by the K-wire under fluoroscopic control in lateral and AP views.
• 03:47 To achieve successive soft tissue dilation, a bigger dilator is now introduced over the small dilator until reaching the anterior border of the disk under lateral x-ray view.
• 03:58 Finally, the endoscopic sleeve is placed over the big dilator until reaching the anterior border of the disk. The sleeve will be protecting all surrounding tissues, including trachea, carotid artery and esophagus during the discectomy.
• 04:09 The big dilator is now removed while the small dilator remains in place. This allows inserting the endoscope under guidance of the small dilator, reducing the risk of slipping away from the target disk. This marks the end of the anterior cervical approach as endoscopic view is now established.
• 04:24 An annulotomy is now performed with a crown reamer under direct endoscopic view. In most of the other reported endoscopic anterior techniques [1-4] the annulotomy has been usually performed percutaneously, without having a direct view on the anatomy, which increases the risk of possible complications. Here, the annulotomy is performed under direct sight, while all surrounding tissues are protected by the endoscopic sleeve. This should significantly minimize the risk of a possible injury or complication.
• 04:52 Once the annulotomy has been confirmed, the crown reamer and small dilator are removed, and the endoscopic discectomy can begin. The annulotomy is a critical visual anatomic landmark once the small dilator is removed.
• 05:03 Soft tissues are removed with a forceps and a radiofrequency probe until the disk is exposed. Then, the initial annulotomy is widened with Kerrison punches and scissors.
• 05:17 The anterior endplates and the nucleus are now exposed.
• 05:21 If necessary, anterior osteophytes can be removed with a forceps and a high-speed burr. Nucleotomy is performed with forceps and Kerrison punches until exposing the posterior endplates.
• 05:37 The posterior annulus is gently removed with 1- and 2-mm Kerrison punches. Endplate preparation can be performed with a sharp spoon, Kerrison punches and a highspeed burr, if necessary.
• 05:59 Posterior osteophytes reaching into the canal can be removed with Kerrison punches under fluroscopic lateral control.
• 06:07 Once the posterior longitudinal ligament is clearly visible, decompression with Kerrison punches can begin until the dura is exposed.
• 06:17 The dura should be carefully decompressed until it is fully exposed and decompression is satisfactory. Care should be taken not to push on the dura. Irrigation pressure needs to be adjusted accordingly. Bilateral foraminotomies can be performed with Kerrison punches according to usual technique. Note the clear endoscopic view of the dura thanks to the continuous irrigation and the endoscopic lens placed directly on top of it.
• 06:46 Final view of the dura should show a completely decompressed canal with a pulsating dura as a direct and an indirect sign of liberation.
• 06:57 Percutaneous anterior cervical interbody fusion.
• 07:02 Once the full-endoscopic decompression has been completed, the endoscope is removed and the big dilator is reintroduced into the disk. The endoscopic sleeve can now be removed. Specially designed retractor blades are slid on the big dilator until reaching the anterior cervical disk and a retractor is attached to them. Once the retractor is in place and secured, the dilator is removed, and a self-locking cervical interbody cage can be placed under fluoroscopic control.
• 08:06 Finally, a 6-mm Redon drain is placed and subcutaneous tissue and skin are closed with an intradermal suture.
• 08:22 Postoperatively, a stay in an ICU is usually not required. The first ambulation occurs at 4 to 6 hours after surgery and hospital discharge is usually in less than 24 hours. The patient presented with minimal postoperative bleeding with less than 5-mL secretion in the drain. The patient did not present postoperative dysphagia and hoarseness. He reported minimal postoperative pain with VAS neck=2, VAS arm=0 and neck disability index of 24. No opioid medication was require dduring postoperative follow-up.
• 08:58 At 24-month postoperative follow-up, the patient reports clear improvement of preoperative clinical symptoms with postoperative scores of VAS neck=2, VAS arm=0 and neck disability index of 15 with no need for pain medication.
• 09:14 Preliminary results presented here were obtained by one surgeon in one center. They need to be confirmed by a randomized controlled trial with a high sample size and control cohorts. Endoscopic ACDF presents several limitations: the anterior endoscopic approach should not be performed in patients with vascular anomalies of the neck, thyroid hyperplasia and/or struma, tumor of the neck and relevant esophageal and/or tracheal pathology. It is also of limited use in cases of revision surgery and cervical deformity that need a wider skin incision to place a plate and bigger implants.
In this clinical case presentation, we have introduced a newly developed approach instrumentation and a modified endoscopic/percutaneous anterior cervical approach for full-endoscopic ACDF. The advantages of eACDF comprise excellent view of posterior endplates and the spinal canal thanks to continuous irrigation and the lens being right on top of the surgical field (Fig. 1), allowing a safe and efficient canal decompression [1-4]. Furthermore, there is no need for a retractor during discectomy which decreases the pressure on surrounding soft tissues like trachea and esophagus, which should reduce the risk of postoperative dysphagia and hoarseness [1-4]. Also the risk of iatrogenic instability and postoperative bleeding is decreased due to the ultraminimally invasive nature of full-endoscopic procedures, facilitating early postoperative ambulation and hospital discharge [1-4]. The novel instrumentation and modified surgical steps introduced here allow increasing the safety and reproducibility of the endoscopic/percutaneous cervical anterior approach, while the specifically developed retractor blades allow complementing the full-endoscopic ACD with the insertion of a zero-profile cervical interbody cage (Fig. 2). Some of the key aspects of this novel eACDF procedure in comparison to previously described techniques are discussed in the following:
1) A reinforced endotracheal tube and a NG tube is systematically employed for all eACDF patients. This ensures that both trachea and esophagus are traceable under intraoperative fluoroscopy, see video at 03:13, decreasing the risk of injury during the approach. Hence, general anesthesia is recommended for an eACDF procedure.
2) Endoscopic (i.e., lumbar, thoracic, and cervical) procedures are based on the concept of progressive soft tissue dilation. Blunt dilators with progressively increasing diameter, like the ones employed in this eACDF procedure, avoid damaging soft tissue during the endoscopic approach. Additionally, also the bevel of the sleeve is blunt and the adjustment with its corresponding dilator is usually in the range of approximately 0.5 mm. Hence, the risk of a possible soft tissue damage by the sleeve is minimal if the approach is performed correctly. The percutaneous interbody cage placement relies on the same principle, as specially designed blades adjust on a dilator to allow soft tissue retraction and exposing the prepared disk for cage insertion under fluoroscopic guidance.
3) During the anterior approach, initial docking of the endoscope can be challenging as the endoscope can slip from the target level and orientation can be lost. When this happens, the surgeon is usually compelled to removing the endoscope and restarting the cervical anterior approach to the target level from anew. In order to avoiding this, here, the initial docking of the endoscope is performed using a guiding dilator that is anchored into the disk. This minimizes the probability of the endoscope slipping from the target.
4) The initial annulotomy with a crown reamer is a critical step during the endoscopic anterior cervical approach. We consider it a main improvement of our endoscopic ACDF technique that the annulotomy is performed under direct endoscopic view, the crown reamer is firmly guided by a dilator anchored to the disk and surrounding soft tissue is protected by the endoscopic sleeve. These 3 measures considerably reduce the risk of an incidental soft tissue injury during the anterior approach.
5) The annulotomy creates a main anatomic landmark that allows visually locating the entrance to the disk space once the guiding dilator has been removed. In the case that the endoscope slips and/or if orientation is lost, the surgeon can visually locate the entry point to the disk using this anatomic landmark and resume the discectomy without having to restart the complete approach from anew. Hence, a proper initial annulotomy is critical to save surgical time and avoiding to restart the anterior cervical approach from anew (with all corresponding risks). These measures represent an improvement over previously described techniques that relied on a percutaneous annulotomy with a crown reamer without endoscopic visualization and soft tissue protection by a sleeve [2-4].
6) Visualization can be impaired if irrigation can not properly enter an extremely collapsed disk.
(1) An increase in irrigation pressure can, but may not necessarily improve visualization. As a rule-of-thumb, irrigation pressure should usually be kept under diastolic pressure [7,8]. However, once the cervical dura has been exposed, it is recommended to decrease irrigation pressure as much as possible as long as visualization is ensured. In our institution, we avoid using an irrigation pump and only use gravity for endoscopic cervical spine procedures. In our experience, gravity allows an optimal visualization in most cases, while limiting irrigation pressure below potentially critical pressure values. Irrigation temperature needs also to be considered and serum temperature should be kept close to body temperature.
(2) One of the most important measures to improve visualization for collapsed disks is distracting the disk to allow optimal access for the irrigation into the disk. Anterior bone spurs and osteophytes can be removed with the high-speed burr and Kerrison punches, like in open ACDF. Disk distraction can be achieved by progressively introducing endoscopic dilators into the disk. In a last step, even the endoscope itself could be introduced into the disk, if necessary. Precaution should be taken especially in osteoporotic bone, as introducing the endoscope into a collapsed and osteoporotic disk space could cause a fracture of the vertebral body. Distracting the disk height progressively with dilators is a critical step to ensure a safe distraction and avoiding fractures.
(3) Usually, a 10º endoscopic scope angle suffices for an optimal visualization of the disk during eACDF.
(4) We have observed soft tissue edema related to irrigation fluid in the surrounding soft tissues of the neck after an anterior cervical endoscopy. The edema usually resolves within the first postoperative hour. In our opinion, it does not cause pressure on the trachea and it does not delay extubation time. Hence, in our experience, irrigation-related post-opeartive soft tissue edema does not have any clinical consequence for the patient.
Despite all described improvements, endoscopic ACDF still presents with limitations: the anterior endoscopic approach should not be performed in patients with vascular anomalies of the neck, thyroid hyperplasia and/or struma, tumor of the neck, relevant esophageal and/or tracheal pathology, etc. It is also of limited/relative use in cases of revision surgery, fracture and cervical deformity that require a wide skin incision and extensive retraction of the cervical spine to place large implants and plates. For these cases, a mini-open anterior cervical approach with blunt finger dissection or a standard open approach could be alternatively considered to perform an eACDF.
In conclusion, full-endoscopic ACDF allows excellent visualization of the posterior endplates and cervical canal with constant irrigation, opening the possibility to treat cervical myelopathy. As no retraction of soft tissues is required during discectomy, the risk of developing postoperative dysphagia, hoarseness and bleeding is decreased. Furthermore, an interbody cage can be percutaneously placed with specially designed retractor blades under fluoroscopic guidance. We believe that this video case presentation provides educational value by presenting a step-bystep description of a novel eACDF technique on a challenging case of cervical myelopathy.
Considering the mentioned limitations, we believe that this novel eACDF technique is a safe and reproducible procedure that could help increase the attractiveness and adoption of percutaneous/endoscopic anterior cervical procedures. Nevertheless, a randomized controlled trial with multiple arms comparing ACDF to eACDF each with a large cohort, respectively, is recommended to analyze and compare the potential benefits and limitations of each surgical technique.
The video file for this article is available at https://doi.org/10.14245/ns.2448796.398.

Conflict of Interest

Christian Morgenstern reports consulting and royalty fees by Maxmore Spine GmbH, Signus GmbH, and Unintech GmbH. Consulting fees by Spineart SA. Except for that, the author has nothing to disclose.

Funding/Support

This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Dr. Rudolf Morgenstern and Geoffrey Delbos for their support.

Author Contribution

Christian Morgenstern is the single author of this article.

Fig. 1.
Intraoperative endoscopic view (A) of the dura and posterior endplates after completing full-endoscopic anterior decompression of the spinal canal immediate postoperative image (B) of the surgical wound of approximately 2.5-cm length with an inlaying Redon drain after full-endoscopic anterior cervical decompression and fusion (eACDF) surgery postoperative image (C) of the surgical wound 12 months after eACDF surgery.
ns-2448796-398f1.jpg
Fig. 2.
Postoperative coronal (A) and lateral (B) standing xray films of a single-level full-endoscopic endoscopic anterior cervical decompression and fusion.
ns-2448796-398f2.jpg
  • 1. Alomar SA, Maghrabi Y, Baeesa SS, et al. Outcome of anterior and posterior endoscopic procedures for cervical radiculopathy due to degenerative disk disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Global Spine J 2022;12:1546-60.
  • 2. Ruetten S, Komp M, Merk H, et al. Full-endoscopic anterior decompression versus conventional anterior decompression and fusion in cervical disc herniations. Int Orthop 2009;33:1677-82.
  • 3. Saringer WF, Reddy B, Nobauer-Huhmann I, et al. Endoscopic anterior cervical foraminotomy for unilateral radiculopathy: anatomical morphometric analysis and preliminary clinical experience. J Neurosurg 2003;98:171-80.
  • 4. Choi G, Lee SH, Bhanot A, et al. Modified transcorporeal anterior cervical microforaminotomy for cervical radiculopathy: a technical note and early results. Eur Spine J 2007;16:1387-93.
  • 5. Tasiou A, Giannis T, Brotis AG, et al. Anterior cervical spine surgery-associated complications in a retrospective casecontrol study. J Spine Surg 2017;3:444-59.
  • 6. Paziuk T, Mazmudar AS, Issa TZ, et al. Does operative level impact dysphagia severity after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion?: a multicenter prospective analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2024;49:909-15.
  • 7. Kang T, Park SY, Lee SH, et al. Assessing changes in cervical epidural pressure during biportal endoscopic lumbar discectomy. J Neurosurg Spine 2021;34:196-202.
  • 8. Joh JY, Choi G, Kong BJ, et al. Comparative study of neck pain in relation to increase of cervical epidural pressure during percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2009;34:2033-8.

Download Citation

Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

Format:

Include:

Full-Endoscopic Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Cervical Myelopathy
Neurospine. 2024;21(4):1119-1125.   Published online December 31, 2024
Download Citation

Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

Format:
Include:
Full-Endoscopic Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Cervical Myelopathy
Neurospine. 2024;21(4):1119-1125.   Published online December 31, 2024
Close

Figure

  • 0
  • 1
Full-Endoscopic Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Cervical Myelopathy
Image Image
Fig. 1. Intraoperative endoscopic view (A) of the dura and posterior endplates after completing full-endoscopic anterior decompression of the spinal canal immediate postoperative image (B) of the surgical wound of approximately 2.5-cm length with an inlaying Redon drain after full-endoscopic anterior cervical decompression and fusion (eACDF) surgery postoperative image (C) of the surgical wound 12 months after eACDF surgery.
Fig. 2. Postoperative coronal (A) and lateral (B) standing xray films of a single-level full-endoscopic endoscopic anterior cervical decompression and fusion.
Full-Endoscopic Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Cervical Myelopathy