Introduction: A clinical series of patients with unilateral Triceps weakness treated with the anterior cervical foraminotomy (Jho) procedure at C6-C7.

Methods: Eighteen patients were treated with the anterior cervical micro-foraminotomy procedure during a 16-year period with follow-up from 6 to 36 months. There were 14 men and 4 women (age range, 32–79 years). Six patients had symptomatic soft disc herniation, and 12 had uncovertebral disk/osteophytes confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and/or myelogram and computed tomography.

Results: All cases had improved or resolved Triceps weakness, 16 case show rapid recovery of motor strength, and the other 2 patients show improvement on follow up in about 3 month with physiotherapy. One case operated in 2000 and had improved motor deficit, but 7 years later was reoperated for cervical stenosis

Conclusions: Patients with triceps weakness treated with the anterior cervical foraminotomy procedure have equivalent or better outcomes than those who undergo more major cervical procedures. It is a good alternative procedure for carefully selected patients with unilateral C6-C7 foraminal stenosis and triceps weakness. This outpatient procedure avoids discectomy and fusion or disc replacement.

Patient Care: Neurosurgeons may choose this outpatient minimally invasive option to treat patients

Learning Objectives: To establish procedural techniques and clinical and radiologic outcomes for the anterior cervical foraminotomy procedure ;to demonstrate effectiveness in reversing motor deficit with this minimally invasive procedure.

References: SPINE Volume 25, Number 8, pp 905–909 ,2000, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.Anterior Cervical Foraminotomy for Unilateral Radicular Disease J. Patrick Johnson, MD, Aaron G. Filler, MD, PhD, Duncan Q. McBride, MD, and Ulrich Batzdorf, MD