ABSTRACT
Introduction Managing patients who present with symptoms of cervical myelopathy secondary to cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is challenging. Various factors such as the number of levels involved with OPLL, types of OPLL, canal occupying ratio, K-line characteristics, and C2-C7 lordosis angle were found to guide decision-making and surgical approaches in managing this condition. However, no clear treatment algorithm has been published. This study aims to investigate the outcome of the management of cervical OPLL using a treatment algorithm used in a tertiary university hospital. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients with cervical myelopathy secondary to cervical OPLL who were treated surgically in our center from 2014 to 2020 were included in this study. Demographic data and preoperative parameters that determined the treatment given according to our treatment algorithm were analyzed. Result A total of 24 patients fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The mean recovery rate for all groups is 61.8[Formula: see text]21.9% and the mean postoperative neck disability index (NDI) is 17.83[Formula: see text]16.67%. There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores for both anterior and posterior surgery subgroups. Conclusion We believe that the treatment algorithm used in our center could benefit other surgeons as a guide in managing patients who suffer from cervical myelopathy secondary to cervical OPLL. Further study including newer techniques would increase the surgeon's arsenal in providing the best outcome in managing this condition.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Osteochondral injuries commonly occur in load-bearing joints, mainly caused by traumatic incidents that can lead to detachment of the cartilage fragment either partial or complete. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review the long-term outcome of osteochondral injury of the talus treated with a cell-free hyaluronic acid-based scaffold (Hyalofast®, Anika Therapeutics Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts, USA). METHOD: This study evaluated the data of seven patients who underwent medial malleolus osteotomy, microfracture, and cell-free hyaluronic acid-based scaffold (HYALOFAST®) insertion between 2015 to 2018. All patients had an osteochondral lesion (OCL) grade III and IV of the talus based on Dipaola classification due to trauma. They were followed up for at least two years and assessed by the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF36) for both physical functioning and mental health, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring system, and visual analog scale (VAS). RESULT: All patients were satisfied in terms of physical function, mental health, and pain after one month of surgery (p-value<0.05). There was also an improvement in AOFAS hindfoot and VAS scores from preoperative to postoperative. No complications were noted in the surgical site or bone union. CONCLUSION: Medial malleolus osteotomy, cell-free hyaluronic acid-based scaffold (HYALOFAST®) grafting, and microfracture are considered relatively easy techniques that are a good choice for patients with sizeable cartilage deficiency and provide a good functional outcome.
