Clinical analysis of thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the intraspinal ligaments in the thoracic spine : for getting better clinical results

This report is to investigate clinical outcome on 46 cases with thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the intraspinal ligaments, which had been treated surgically, and to analyze the factors influencing to clinical results in order to make the results better. There were 24 cases with ossified ligamentum flavum (OLF) and 12 cases with ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and 10 cases with combined OLF and OPLL. Based on Japanese Orthopedic Association score, clinical results at the time of discharge from hospital 21 cases were excellent and good, and those at the time of follow- (up) 27 cases were in the same categories. The factors which influenced clinical results were preoperative motor dysfunction of the lower limbs, combination with OLF and OPLL and the presence of ossification in cervical or lumbar areas. And early diagnosis of this condition was important. For getting better results if patients complained of numbness or motor dysfunction of the lower limbs, ossification should be confirmed by MRI and then surgical decompression of the spinal cord should be done as soon as possible.

胸髄症

後縦靭帯骨化

黄色靭帯骨化

靭帯骨化症

椎弓切除術

本文データは山口大学医学会の許諾に基づきCiNiiから複製したものである