Long-term follow-up results of anterior interbody fusion applied for cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.
METHODS
A long-term follow-up study was carried out in 30 patients who underwent anterior interbody fusion for cervical myelopathy associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether anterior interbody fusion without decompression is an appropriate surgical method for long-term relief of cervical OPLL myelopathy.


BACKGROUND
Several studies of operative results after posterior decompression for cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament have been reported. There has been no report about anterior interbody fusion without decompression. The postoperative results of this treatment method applied in cervical OPLL myelopathy have been evaluated by the authors of the present study for more than 10 years. No reports on such a long-term follow-up study have been published in the literature.


METHODS
Thirty patients who underwent anterior interbody fusion for cervical OPLL myelopathy were evaluated clinically and radiographically. The mean follow-up period was 14.7 years (range, 10-23 years).


RESULTS
Clinical results were evaluated according to Okamoto's classification. At the time of the final follow-up evaluation, 16 patients had improved in functional score by two grades, and their surgical results were regarded as excellent; eight patients improved by one grade, and their clinical outcomes were regarded as good; five patients showed no change; and the condition of one patient deteriorated. As for radiographic analysis, the type of ossification had changed in four cases. Ossification width and thickness increased in 26 patients. Postoperative alignment of the cervical spine showed kyphosis in three patients, straight spine in 11 patients, and lordosis in 16 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Anterior interbody fusion without decompression is an effective treatment for cervical OPLL myelopathy that resulted in stable long-lasting conditions.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yokohama Minami Kyosai Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. YKONARI@aol.com
K
K
Onari
N
N
Akiyama
S
S
Kondo
A
A
Toguchi
H
H
Mihara
T
T
Tsuchiya
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed