Postoperative evaluation was performed on fifty-two patients with the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after decompressive laminectomy or anterior decompression and fusion. OPLLs with cervical cord trauma showed poor results, thus these cases had better be excluded.
Twenty-one cases with posterior approach gained 48.4% recovery rate, and eigteen cases with anterior approach 51.7%.
In severe narrow cases (narrow ratio>40%), posterior decompressive laminectomy was performed on eighteen cases and anterior decompression under microscopy on four cases.
Four anterior cases gained 58.5% recovery rate, whereas 18 posterior cases 48.7%.
Anterior resection of OPLL and fusion was a good procedure for compressive myelo pathy due to OPLL, especially cases with kyphosis or cases with locally located big OPLL.
In order to perform this operation safely, it is essential to use the microscopy during operation.
