Abstract: Objective    To evaluate the application value of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) in determining the "V" point in transforaminal decompression and nucleus pulposus enucleation of posterior cervical approach by using percutaneous spinal endoscopy.    Methods    A retrospective analysis was made on 50 patients who underwent transforaminal decompression and nucleus pulposus enucleation of posterior cervical spine approach by using percutaneous spinal endoscopy and followed up from January 2016 to June 2018. They all sufferred from cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with unilateral symptoms, conservative treatment for more than 6 weeks were ineffective for them. The dynamic X-ray film of cervical spine showed no instability of cervical spine. There were 27 males and 23 females, with an average age of 54.2 (40~75) years, 14 cases of C4/5 segment, 25 cases of C5/6 segment and 11 cases of C6/7 segment. Fifty patients were divided into groups A (26 cases) and group B (24 cases). The patients were positioned according to the intraoperative conventional "V" point positioning method using C-arm X-ray machine in group A, and the patients determined the "V" point using the 3D-CT technology method before the operation in group B. The average hospital stay, operation time, number of intraoperative fluoroscopy and surgical efficacy between the two groups were compared and statistically analyzed.   Results   All 50 patients were followed up for an average of (7.20±2.56) months (3-13 months), The average operation time and intraoperative fluoroscopy in group A were more than those in group B (P<0.05). There was no signiant difference in the average hospital stay, postoperative follow-up score, the curvature of the cervical spine, the height of the intervertebral space of the operation segment and the stability of the cervical spine between the two groups (P>0.05).    Conclusions 3D-CT technology plays an important role in determining the "V" point in posterior cervical approach percutaneous spinal endoscopic surgery. 

Key words:  , Posterior cervical approach,  ,  , Percutaneous spinal endoscopy,  ,  , Three-dimensional CT imaging technology,  ,  , “V” point