title: [Reoperation to the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss surgical approaches of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of cervical spine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2005 to July 2010, 36 patients with OPLL of cervical spine were reoperated. There were 23 male, 13 female, age from 39 to 72 years (mean 57 years). The time of the first operation to the reoperation were 4 months to 24 years, an average of 3.9 years. Among 20 patients underwent anterior corpectomy and fusion (ACD) at first operation, 14 cases combined stenosis of cervical spinal canal, 10 cases were insufficient decompression of OPLL, 5 cases injured of cervical spinal cord during the first operation, 1 case was adjacent disc herniation. Among 14 cases underwent expensive open-door laminoplasty (ELAP) at first operation, 6 cases were insufficient decompression of OPLL, 4 cases were inadequate decompressed segment, 2 cases were cervical segmental kyphosis, 2 cases were progression of OPLL combined with disc herniation. Among 2 cases underwent combined approach at first operation, 1 case was insufficient decompression of OPLL, the other was adjacent disc herniation. Their pre- and post-operative X-ray, CT and MRI were analyzed. The complications of reoperation were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 30 patients followed-up, with a period of 1.5 - 4.0 years, average 1.8 years. With 36 patients, none had deterioration, 2 patients had no recovery post-reoperation, 34 patients had 31.2% Japanese Orthopedic Association score improve rate. Among 22 cases underwent ELAP at second operation, 3 cases had postoperative segmental palsy. Among 14 cases underwent ACD at second operation, 3 cases had intraoperative dural defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical strategy for OPLL of cervical spine should consider the type of OPLL and stenosis of cervical spinal canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-fa
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Zhong-jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feng-shan
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shao-bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies