Cervical laminoplasty versus laminectomy and fusion: An umbrella review of postoperative outcomes.

While multiple studies exist comparing cervical laminoplasty (CLP) and posterior cervical laminectomy with fusion (PCF), no clear consensus exists on which intervention is better. An umbrella review helps provide an overall assessment by analyzing a given condition's multiple interventions and outcomes. It integrates all available information on a topic and allows a consensus to be reached on the intervention of choice. A literature search was conducted using specific search criteria in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Titles and abstracts were screened based on inclusion criteria. A full-text review of articles that passed the initial inclusion criteria was performed. Nine meta-analyses were deemed eligible for the umbrella review. Data was extracted on reported variables from these meta-analyses. Subsequent quality assessment using AMSTAR2 and data analysis using the R package metaumbrella were used to determine the significance of postoperative outcomes. When the meta-analyses were pooled, statistically significant differences between CLP and PCF were found for postoperative overall complications rate and postoperative JOA score. PCF was associated with a lower overall complication rate and a higher postoperative JOA score, both supported by a weak level of evidence (class IV). Data regarding all other outcomes were non-significant. Our umbrella review investigates CLP and PCF by providing a comprehensive overview of existing evidence and evaluating inconsistencies within the literature. This umbrella review revealed that PCF had better outcomes for overall complications rate and postoperative JOA than CLP, but they were classified as being of weak significance.