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Posterior decompression with instrumented fusion for thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

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Abstract

We evaluated the clinical results of posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) for thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). A total of 24 patients underwent PDF, and their surgical outcomes were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores (0–11 points) and by recovery rates calculated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery and at a mean final follow-up of 4 years and 5 months. The mean JOA score before surgery was 3.7 points. Although transient paralysis occurred immediately after surgery in one patient (3.8%), all patients showed neurological recovery at the final follow-up with a mean JOA score of 8.0 points and a mean recovery rate of 58.1%. The mean recovery rate at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery was 36.7, 48.8, 54.0 and 56.8%, respectively. The median time point that the JOA score reached its peak value was 9 months after surgery. No patient chose additional anterior decompression surgery via thoracotomy. The present findings demonstrate that despite persistent anterior impingement of the spinal cord by residual OPLL, PDF can result in considerable neurological recovery with a low risk of postoperative paralysis. Since neurological recovery progresses slowly after PDF, we suggest that additional anterior decompression surgery is not desirable during the early stage of recovery.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Professor Kazuhisa Takahashi (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine) for his kind support in the present analysis. This work was supported by the Health Labour Science Research Grant of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spine Section, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan

    Masashi Yamazaki, Akihiko Okawa, Takayuki Fujiyoshi, Takeo Furuya & Masao Koda

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  1. Masashi Yamazaki
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  2. Akihiko Okawa
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  3. Takayuki Fujiyoshi
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  4. Takeo Furuya
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  5. Masao Koda
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Correspondence to Masashi Yamazaki.

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Yamazaki, M., Okawa, A., Fujiyoshi, T. et al. Posterior decompression with instrumented fusion for thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Eur Spine J 19, 691–698 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1266-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1266-4

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