Expansive laminoplasty for multilevel cervical OPLL

J Spinal Disord. 1997 Aug;10(4):296-8.

Abstract

Expansive laminoplasty is a new technique for the management of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Twenty patients were followed up for an average 3-year period. Follow-up examinations were performed every 3 months and at 1-year intervals. On lateral radiographs, the average increase in the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the canal was 42%. Bone fusion was documented on computed tomography (CT) studies 3 months after surgery in 96% of patients. An average 83% of normal range of motion was preserved on long-term follow-up (3 years on average). Postoperative improvement over the same interval increased from an average preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score of 7.9 to 14.1 Expansive laminoplasty as described is safe and has a high fusion rate, while better preserving the normal range of motion.

MeSH terms

  • Constriction, Pathologic
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck
  • Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / diagnostic imaging
  • Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / physiopathology
  • Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / surgery*
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Spinal Canal / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Spine / diagnostic imaging
  • Spine / physiopathology
  • Spine / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed