The Technique of Enlargement of Cervical Canal in Treatment of Cervical OPLL

Kwon, S H; Rha, H K; Lee, G S; Ahn, M S; Choi, C R; Song, J U

Abstract

We have performed a new technique of laminoplasty which have been used to enlarge the spinal canal on 6 patients with OPLL(olssification of posteriorlongitudial ligament) combined with spinal canal stenosis during the past 2 years. On clinical symptoms and signs, two cases have only radiculopathy, one has only myelopathy, and three have myelopathy and radiculopathy. The extent of OPLL was 2 levels in one case, 3 levels in 3 cases and 4 levels in two cases. The sagittal diameter of the spinal canal at the lesion site was less than 12mm in all patients. Plain X-ray, tomogram, Erb's point SEP, EMG, C-myelogram, and spinal CT were used for the diagnostic method in these 6 patients. Operative result was good in 5 cases except for one having long preoperative history of severe symptoms. Post-operatively, no complications were noted in all cases. Therefore we suggest that the technique of the laminoplasty would be better than multiple level laminectomy in patients with cervical stenosis more than 3 levels of involvement.