title: Sagittal splitting laminoplasty for spinal canal enlargement for ossification of the spinal ligaments (OPLL and OLF).
abstract: Patients have been followed up radiologically after sagittal splitting laminoplasty (SSL) for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ligamentum flavum. The enlarged spinal canal was maintained satisfactorily in all the cases, and the posterior spinal elements were also almost completely restored. In most cases, the range of the vertebral motion was good with more than 50% of the preoperative status. Postoperative instability of the vertebral column was not identified in any case. Mild cervical kyphosis was noted in 6% of cervical OPLL patients. There were no patients with neurological deterioration. Using SSL, reconstruction and restoration of the posterior spinal elements and retention of the enlarged spinal canal were accomplished safely and adequately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 19--1 Uchimaru, Morioka 020--8505, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toba
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehara
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors