title: Management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine.
abstract: The management of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament has been studied by many spinal surgeons. Indications for operative intervention include progressive radiculopathy, myelopathy, and neurological deterioration. The ideal surgery for decompression remains highly debatable as various methods of surgical treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament have been devised. Although numerous modifications to the 3 main approaches have been identified (anterior, posterior, or lateral), the indication for each depends on the nature of compression, the morphology of the lesion, the level of the compression, the structural alignment of the spine, and the neurological status of the patient. The authors discuss treatment techniques for thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, cite case examples from a single institution, and review the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 North Saint Clair, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. jamal-jr@md.northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McClendon
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sugrue
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganju
authors.forename: Tyler R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Koski
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*