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To compare perioperative parameters, clinical outcomes, radiographic parameters, and complication rates of segmental anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (sACCF) plus preservation of middle vertebrae with those of cervical laminectomy plus fusion (CLF) in 67 patients with 4-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Between July 2006 and May 2012, 67 consecutive patients [42 males and 25 females; mean age 57.8 years (range 34–77 years)] with 4-level CSM who underwent surgery and were followed for more than 1 year were enrolled in this study and divided into sACCF and CLF groups. The study compared perioperative parameters; surgery-related and instrumentation- and graft-related complication rates; clinical parameters; patient satisfaction; and radiologic parameters. Significant improvements were seen from preoperative to postoperative in both groups for all three measures of clinical outcome; between-group comparison revealed no significant difference for two of the three measures and significantly better scores for the CLF group in the third. Satisfaction was rated as excellent or good by 79.5 % of the sACCF group and 71.4 % of the CLF group, which was not a significant difference. Mean postoperative cervical lordosis was significantly greater in the sACCF group than in the CLF group. Blood loss and operative time were significantly greater in the CLF group than in the sACCF group and complication rate significantly lower for the sACCF group. sACCF with preservation of middle vertebrae is a safe, reliable, and effective alternative procedure for the treatment of 4-level CSM.

A shield attitude rectification decision function is proposed to reduce snake track phenomenon and rectification failure problem during shield attitude rectification. A method of shield attitude rectification working condition evaluation based on support vector data description(SVDD) is introduced. Shield attitude mechanics model containing priori knowledge assists to feature selection. SVDD handles the one class classification problem. Decision function for attitude rectification is proposed based on working condition evaluation. The result of engineering data processing indicates that the evaluation method is stable and practical for shield attitude rectification decision.