Limited oblique corpectomy for treatment of ossified posterior longitudinal ligament

OBJECTIVE: We present our experience with treating four cases with ossified posterior longitudinal ligaments (OPLL) causing cervical cord compression by limited oblique and strategic corpectomy. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Four patients with cervical OPLL were treated by the discussed technique during the period of October 2000 to January 2005. The ages of the patients ranged from 46 to 72 years. All patients presented with symptoms of progressively increasing myelopathy. Two patients had four level OPLL and two patients had two level OPLL. Surgery involved anterior cervical exposure and partial oblique corpectomy, which was essentially an extended midline and lateral undercutting of the body. The procedure provided a wide exposure for resection of the OPLL. No metal instrumentation or any other kind of fixation procedure was simultaneously carried out and there was no need for postoperative cervical immobilization. During the period of follow up that ranged from 6 month to 5 years (mean: 33 months) all the four patients have shown sustained clinical improvement. Neuroimaging studies confirmed satisfactory anatomical cervical cord decompression in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of oblique and strategic corpectomy provided a wide exposure for resection of the OPLL and preserved the stability of the region.