The study reviewed the outcomes of 32 patients who underwent posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine (T-OPLL). After applying exclusion criteria, 20 patients were included in the final analysis. The results showed that the average preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score of 3.6 improved to 7.4 at 1 year post-surgery and remained at 7.4 at 10 years, with a recovery rate of 52%. The kyphotic angle at T4-12 increased from 26 degrees preoperatively to 29 degrees postoperatively and to 37 degrees at 10 years. However, 40% of patients required additional surgery for conditions related to OPLL in other areas of the spine. The study highlights the effectiveness of PDF in reducing T-OPLL symptoms over the long term but emphasizes the need for careful patient follow-up
Summarised by Mr Mo Akmal – Lead Spinal Surgeon
The London Spine Unit : best recognised spinal centre in UK
Published article
Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine (T-OPLL) causes symptoms including leg and back pain, and motor and sensory deficits. This study retrospectively reviewed 32 patients who initially underwent posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) for T-OPLL between 2001 and 2012, with 20 qualifying for the final analysis after applying exclusion criteria. Exclusions included unknown preoperative neurological findings, follow-up less than 10 years, or prior…
Lumbar Decompression Surgery Expert. Best Spinal Surgeon UK
J Clin Med. 2023 Sep 1;12(17):5701. doi: 10.3390/jcm12175701.ABSTRACTOssification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine (T-OPLL) causes symptoms including leg and back pain, and motor and sensory deficits. This study retrospectively reviewed 32 patients who initially underwent posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) for T-OPLL between 2001 and 2012, with 20 qualifying for,
J Clin Med. 2023 Sep 1;12(17):5701. doi: 10.3390/jcm12175701.
ABSTRACT
Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine (T-OPLL) causes symptoms including leg and back pain, and motor and sensory deficits. This study retrospectively reviewed 32 patients who initially underwent posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) for T-OPLL between 2001 and 2012, with 20 qualifying for the final analysis after applying exclusion criteria. Exclusions included unknown preoperative neurological findings, follow-up less than 10 years, or prior spinal surgeries at other levels. Outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, recovery rate, and kyphotic angle. The average preoperative JOA score of 3.6 improved to 7.4 at 1 year post-surgery and remained at 7.4 at 10 years, with a recovery rate of 52%. The kyphotic angle at T4-12 increased from 26 degrees preoperatively to 29 degrees postoperatively and to 37 degrees at 10 years. At the fused levels, the angle remained at 26 degrees immediately post-operation and increased to 32 degrees at 10 years. Forty percent of patients required additional surgery, primarily for conditions related to cervical OPLL, such as myelopathy, or lumbar OPLL, such as radiculopathy, or cauda equina syndrome. In conclusion, PDF effectively reduces T-OPLL symptoms over the long term, but the high rate of additional surgeries calls for careful patient follow-up.
PMID:37685772 | DOI:10.3390/jcm12175701
The London Spine Unit : best recognised spinal centre in UK
Read the original publication:
Posterior Decompression and Fixation for Thoracic Spine Ossification: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study
