Background Data: Post-laminectomy deformities after surgery for the spinal tumors in children are common and affect the functional outcome. Laminoplasty may decrease the incidence of postoperative progressive spinal deformity
requiring subsequent fusion. Study Design: Retrospective clinical case study. Purpose: To assess the outcome of laminoplasty in children with spinal tumors with special stress on the incidence of postoperative spinal instability.
Patients and Methods: This study included fourteen children who underwent laminoplasty during resection of spinal tumors between January 2013 and September 2014. The Cobb angle was used to detect the development of spinal deformity in the sagittal plane. The modified McCormick scale was used for evaluation of the functional outcome of the patients.
Results: Gross total excision of the intraspinal tumor was achieved in 57.1% of the patients. No patients developed spinal sagittal deformity in a mean followup period of 18 months that required fusion. Improved functional outcome was
noticed in 71.4% of the patients. Conclusion: Laminoplasty for the resection of the spinal tumors in children was
very valuable in decreasing the incidence of progressive sagittal spinal deformity resulting in better fuctional outcome. (2015ESJ085)