[Clinical characteristics and results of cervical spinal cord injury in the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical characteristics and results of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) in the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).


METHODS
Nineteen patients with cervical SCI associated with OPLL were retrospectively analyzed. Data collection included: pre- and postoperative neurological function, OPLL-type, MRI signal changes and surgical approaches.


RESULTS
Spinal cord associated with OPLL was injured severely by mild trauma. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate was used within 8 h after trauma in 12 cases. Two of them died of complications. The neurological functions were markedly improved in the other 10 cases. Seventeen cases had surgical treatment. The neurological functions (Frankel grade) were improved significantly in the operated patients except for one, who died 27 d after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients with OPLL are prone to have severe SCI, which directly associates with the preexisting OPLL-type and hyper-intensity signal change in the spinal cord on MRI. Both of using methylprednisolone sodium succinate administration within 8 h after trauma and surgical decompression may improve the neurological outcomes.
Chen
De-yu
DY
Department of Orthopaedic, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China. chenspine@yahoo.com
He
Zhi-min
ZM
Chen
Hua-jiang
HJ
Wang
Xin-wei
XW
Chen
Yu
Y
Guo
Yong-fei
YF
Yang
Hai-Song
HS
Tian
Hai-Jun
HJ
D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005938:Glucocorticoids