Anterior corpectomy and fusion for severe ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine

作者：Chen, Yu; Chen, Deyu^*; Wang, Xinwei; Lu, Xuhai; Guo, Yongfei; He, Zhimin; Tian, Haijun

来源：International Orthopaedics, 2009, 33(2): 477-482.

DOI：10.1007/s00264-008-0542-y

• SURGICAL STRATEGY
• INTERBODY FUSION
• MYELOPATHY
• DECOMPRESSION
• COMPLICATIONS
• SPONDYLOSIS
• DURA

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.

• 出版日期2009-4
• 单位中国人民解放军第二军医大学; 天津市中医药研究院附属医院