How does the ossification area of the posterior longitudinal ligament progress after cervical laminoplasty?
METHODS
Retrospective case series.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the progression pattern of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after cervical laminoplasty.


BACKGROUND
OPLL is a progressive disease, and an increased area of ossification affects the surgical results after laminoplasty. However, it is uncertain how the ossification area progresses with time after surgery.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients who were available for serial radiographs of more than 5 years were included. The extent of ossification in the longitudinal axis was assessed using computer software. The associations between the progression of OPLL and the clinical and radiologic data were analyzed.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients had OPLL progression. The patients were divided into three groups according to the pattern of progression. Group 1 consisted of patients 40 to 49 years of age with continuous or mixed type, showing slow progression at the beginning, then fast. Group 2 consisted of patients older than 50 years with continuous or mixed type, showing rapid progression at the beginning and then slow. The patients in Group 3 had segmental type with no or slight progression.


CONCLUSIONS
We speculated that the progression of OPLL decreases as the patient ages. These findings will be important for the management of patients with OPLL after surgery.
Hori
Takeshi
T
From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
Kawaguchi
Yoshiharu
Y
Kimura
Tomoatsu
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery