title: Outcome of posterior decompression with instrumented fusion surgery for K-line (-) cervical ossification of the longitudinal ligament.
abstract: We investigated the outcome of posterior decompression and instrumented fusion (PDF) surgery for patients with K-line (-) ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine, who may have a poor surgical prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of a series of 27 patients who underwent PDF without correction of cervical alignment for K-line (-) OPLL and were followed-up for at least 1 year after surgery. We had performed double-door laminoplasty followed by posterior instrumented fusion without excessive correction of cervical spine alignment. The preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score for cervical myelopathy was 8.0 points and postoperative JOA score was 11.9 points on average. The mean JOA score recovery rate was 43.6%. The average C2-C7 angle was 2.2° preoperatively and 3.1° postoperatively. The average maximum occupation ratio of OPLL was 56.7%. In conclusion, PDF without correcting cervical alignment for patients with K-line (-) OPLL showed moderate neurological recovery, which was acceptable considering K-line (-) predicts poor surgical outcomes. Thus, PDF is a surgical option for such patients with OPLL.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Junya
authors: J
authors: Saito
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. Electronic address: makisatoshi@hotmail.com.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Maki
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Koshiro
authors: K
authors: Kamiya
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Takeo
authors: T
authors: Furuya
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Taigo
authors: T
authors: Inada
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Mitsutoshi
authors: M
authors: Ota
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Iijima
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Kazuhisa
authors: K
authors: Takahashi
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan.
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Yamazaki
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Aramomi
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors: Chikato
authors: C
authors: Mannoji
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Koda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D065406:Laminoplasty / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cervical spine; K-line; Laminoplasty; Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament; Posterior decompression and instrumented fusion