title: Expansive laminoplasty for multilevel cervical OPLL.
abstract: Expansive laminoplasty is a new technique for the management of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Twenty patients were followed up for an average 3-year period. Follow-up examinations were performed every 3 months and at 1-year intervals. On lateral radiographs, the average increase in the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the canal was 42%. Bone fusion was documented on computed tomography (CT) studies 3 months after surgery in 96% of patients. An average 83% of normal range of motion was preserved on long-term follow-up (3 years on average). Postoperative improvement over the same interval increased from an average preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score of 7.9 to 14.1 Expansive laminoplasty as described is safe and has a high fusion rate, while better preserving the normal range of motion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirabayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yabuno
mesh_terms: D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed