プロスポーツ選手の頚髄症に対する後方内視鏡下除圧術の経験

Posterior Cervical Microendoscopic Laminoplasty for the Treatment of Myelopathy in a Professional Athlete. Case Report

　頚髄症を呈し，競技の継続が困難であった40歳のトッププロ競艇選手に対し，低侵襲の頚椎後方内視鏡下除圧術(posterior cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty：以下CMEL)を施行した．術後2カ月で競技に復帰し，3カ月で優勝も果たした．術後3年の現在も競技中の症状の誘発・増悪は認めず，トッププロとして頚髄症発症以前から競技レベルを落とすことなく活躍している．高いパフォーマンスが要求されるプロスポーツ選手の頚髄症に対して，CMELは競技復帰・継続のための有効な治療法となる．

　We report a case of cervical myelopathy in a professional athlete who was treated by posterior cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty (CMEL).　The patient was a 40-year-old male and top professional boat racer who had become unable to continue racing because of cervical myelopathy.　Two months postoperatively he resumed racing, and he won a race within three months after the operation.　He has been able to continue engaging in competitions symptom-free and at the same level.　CMEL can be an effective procedure for the treatment of cervical myelopathy in professional athletes who require a high performance level in order to continue or resume engagement in competitions.