Cervical spine stenosis due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in Italian patients: surgical treatment and outcome |
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Authors: | F Maiuri G Iaconetta A Gambardella S Buonamassa |
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Institution: | (1) Dipartimento di Neurochirurgia, Facolta’ di Medicina, Universita’ Federico II, Via Pansini 5, I-80131, Napoli, Italy Tel.: +39-81-7462576, Fax: +39-81-7462594, IT;(2) Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University ’Federico II’, Naples, Italy, IT |
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Abstract: | Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine is a frequent pathological entity in people
of Japanese and Asian extraction and is reported with increasing frequency also in the USA; on the contrary, reports in the
European and particularly in the Italian literature remain rare. This paper describes 8 Italian patients with cervical spine
stenosis due to OPLL extending three to five vertebral segments (and above C3 in four cases). Magnetic resonance imaging shows
the extent of the ossification well in terms of height and cord compression, while computed tomography is useful to measure
the thickness of the bone mass and the residual spinal canal. Anterior cervical decompression by discectomy, corpectomy, and
removal of the ossified ligament is the treatment of choice and results in clinical improvement in most cases. Decompressive
laminectomy may be reserved for patients with ossification extending to four or five levels and above C3. The surgical technique
and intraoperative findings are discussed.
Received: 30 March 1998 |
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