Anterior or posterior approach for segmental severe ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine: the efficacy and selection strategy / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy and selection of anterior and posterior approaches for segmental severe ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)of the cervical spine.Method From January 2007 to May 2011,59 patients with segmental severe OPLL underwent surgical treatment,including 41 males and 18 females,with an average age of 55.7 years.Among them,24 patients underwent anterior corpectomy and fusion,and 35 patients underwent laminectomy and lateral mass screw fixation.In two groups,the operation time,intraoperative blood loss,change of cervical curvature,neck axial symptoms,and JOA (Japanese Orthopaedic Association) score were recorded and compared.Result All patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months (average,15.4 months).The average JOA score in anterior approach group increased from preoperative 7.33 ± 1.09 to 13.63±0.82 at final follow-up,with an average improvement rate of 65.16％ ±7.50％; the average JOA score in posterior approach group increased from preoperative 7.20 ± 1.05 to 12.23 ± 1.11 at final follow-up,with an improvement rate of 51.46％±9.64％; and the difference between two groups was statistically significant.Immediately after the operation,the segmental curvature of the operative site was 5.38°±1.14° in anterior approach group and 3.89°±1.65° in posterior approach group,and the difference was statistically significant.At final follow-up,the rate of neck axial symptoms was 20.83％ in anterior approach group and 51.43％ in posterior approach group,and the difference was also statistically significant.Conclusion For severe OPLL with not more than 3 segments of ossification,the anterior approach can remove the ossified mass directly,get a better neurological recovery,provide a good biomechanical alignment,and decrease the postoperative axial symptoms.However,posterior laminectomy and lateral mass screw fixation also can obtain enough decompression and maintain the segmental curvature.