Anterior controllable anteriodisplacement and fusion for treatment of severe cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To report a novel technique named anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for the treatment of severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine, which allows for direct decompression of the nerve without resection of the ossification, making up for deficiencies in traditional anterior or posterior decompression. Methods The main surgical procedures of the ACAF included treatment of intervertebral space, removal of the anterior part of vertebrae, installation of titanium plate and interbody fusion cages, bilateral osteotomies of the vertebrae, and antedisplacement of the vertebrae ossification complex. The clinical data of two patients undergoing this surgery for severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of cervical spine were collected and analyzed. Results ACAF enabled direct decompression of spinal cord and nerve root through antedisplacement of the vertebrae ossification complex. The two patients who underwent ACAF gained satisfactory restoration with decompression of spinal cord and good recovery of neurological function, with no specific complications. Conclusion ACAF surgery takes into account the effectiveness of anterior direct decompression and the safety of posterior indirect decompression. Preliminary results shows that it can be used for severe cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.