Surgical treatment of lumbar ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Report of two cases and description of surgical technique

J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Sep;3(3):230-3. doi: 10.3171/spi.2005.3.3.0230.

Abstract

The authors report two cases of patients with lumbar ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). One patient underwent surgery via the single posterior approach, and the other patient underwent combined anterior-posterior surgery. The authors consider the anterior approach for excision of the ossified lesion to be the most reasonable for treatment of lumbar OPLL. It is extremely important, however, to select the surgical procedure according to the individual patient's condition.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Screws
  • Humans
  • Ligaments / pathology
  • Ligaments / surgery
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Male
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / pathology
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / surgery*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome