title: Anterior corpectomy and fusion for severe ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine.
abstract: Between May 2002 and October 2006, 19 patients (17 men and 2 women; average age 57.2; range 47-71 years) received anterior corpectomy and fusion for severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in our department. Preoperative radiological evaluation showed the narrowing by the OPLL exceeded 50% in all cases, and OPLL extended from one to three vertebrae. We followed-up all patients for 12-36 months (mean 18 months). The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score before surgery was 9.3 +/- 1.8 (range 5-12) which significantly increased to 14.2 +/- 1.3 (range 11-16) points at the last follow-up (P < 0.01). The improvement rate (IR) of neurological function ranged from 22.2-87.5%, with a mean of 63.2% +/- 15.2%. The operation also provided a significant increase in the cervical lordosis and the cord flatting rate (P < 0.01). No severe neurological complication developed. We therefore concluded that anterior decompression and fusion was effective and safe in the treatment of the selected patients, although OPLL exceeded 50% diameter of the spinal canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Deyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuhai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yongfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome