Long-Term Follow-Up of Multilevel Thoracic Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Following Circumferential Decompression via Posterior Approach: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: To examine the postoperative progression of multilevel thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at circumferential decompression (CD) levels and evaluate the long-term results after CD via the posterior approach.

Methods: Clinical data from 16 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OPLL who underwent CD at a single center were evaluated retrospectively from 2007 to 2014 and were followed up for more than 60 months. Patients of all sexes and ages were included in the study.

Three-dimensional navigation (O-arm) versus fluoroscopy in the treatment of thoracic spinal stenosis with ultrasonic bone curette: A retrospective comparative study.

Three-dimensional intraoperative navigation (O-arm) has been used for many years in spinal surgeries and has significantly improved its precision and safety. This retrospective study compared the efficacy and safety of spinal cord decompression surgeries performed with O-arm navigation and fluoroscopy. The clinical data of 56 patients with thoracic spinal stenosis treated from March 2015 to April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.

Treatment for Thoracic Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament with Posterior Circumferential Decompression.

Objective: To report the results of the posterior approach for thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (TOPLL) by using a special "L" osteotome.

Methods: The present study enrolled 16 consecutive patients (9 men and 7 women) between May 2009 and September 2013. All patients underwent a posterior circumferential decompression osteotomy and segmental instrumentation with interbody fusion.

Clinical Guideline for Treatment of Symptomatic Thoracic Spinal Stenosis.

Thoracic spinal stenosis is a relatively common disorder causing paraplegia in the population of China. Until nowadays, the clinical management of thoracic spinal stenosis is still demanding and challenging with lots of questions remaining to be answered. A clinical guideline for the treatment of symptomatic thoracic spinal stenosis has been created by reaching the consensus of Chinese specialists using the best available evidence as a tool to aid practitioners involved with the care of this disease.

Progress on clinical characteristics and identification of location of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum.

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is the most common cause for thoracic spinal stenosis. TOLF is usually complicated by thoracic disc herniation, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and degenerative spinal diseases such as cervical spondylosis and lumbar spinal stenosis, and the ossification also usually has a discontinuous or continuous multi-segment distribution. The resultant superposition of several symptoms makes the clinical manifestations complex.

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2-induced ossification of the ligamentum flavum in rats and the associated global modification of histone H3.

Object: The primary object of this investigation was to study recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)-induced ossification of the ligamentum flavum and associated histone H3 modification in a rat model. In an additional set of studies the authors investigated spinal cord and behavioral changes in the same model.

Methods: The authors report on 2 separate sets of studies.

[Longterm outcome after the decompressive surgery for thoracic myelopathy due to the ossification of the ligamentum flavum].

Objectives: To investigate the long-term surgical outcome of thoracic myelopathy caused by the ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) and evaluate the related risk factors.

Methods: Forty-four patients who underwent decompressive laminectomy with thoracic OLF between January 1990 and December 2005 and got more than 5 years follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Among these 44 cases, there were 29 male and 15 female whose ages at operation were 52 years averagely (27-68 years).

[The posterior surgical treatment of old tuberculous kyphosis].

Objective: To observe the results of posterior osteotomy and correction in the surgical treatment of old tuberculous kyphosis.

Methods: From June 2004 to December 2008, 31 cases of old tuberculous kyphosis with posterior osteotomy and correction technique were treated. There were 12 cases of male and 19 cases of female.

Circumspinal decompression through a single posterior incision to treat thoracolumbar disc herniation.

Background: Various surgical approaches have been successfully used in the treatment of thoracolumbar disc herniation (TLDH). Although the anterior transthoracic approach has a reputation for better visualization than the posterolateral and lateral approaches, it involves the manipulation of the thoracic and pulmonary structures. Thus, this approach is technically demanding and prone to compromising the respiratory system.

Diagnosis and treatment of ossification of the ligamentum flavum associated with dural ossification: clinical article.

Object: In this paper, the authors aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics of ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) associated with dural ossification (DO) and to identify improved methods for preoperative diagnosis.

Methods: Thirty-six patients who had undergone OLF surgery between February 2005 and September 2009 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: one that included patients with intraoperative evidence of DO and a second group that included patients without DO.

[The impact of thoracic and thoracolumbar angular kyphosis on pelvic shape and sagittal alignment].

Objective: To analyze the impact of thoracic and thoracolumbar angular kyphosis on pelvic shape and sagittal alignment.

Methods: From May 2002 to June 2010, the sagittal spino-pelvic parameters were analyzed in lateral standing radiographs of 32 patients (mean age 29.6 years) with thoracolumbar angular kyphosis.

[Clinical outcomes of surgical correction for ankylosing spondylitic kyphosis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of posterior surgical corrective methods for ankylosing spondylitic kyphosis.

Methods: From June 2003 to June 2008, 21 cases of ankylosing spondylitic kyphosis received posterior surgical correction. There were 17 male and 4 female, and the average age was 39.

[Combined segmental resection osteotomy with dual axial rotation correction, fixation and fusion for the treatment of severe angular kyphosis].

Objective: To design a new surgical correction and fixation technique for the treatment of severe angular kyphosis, observe the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of the technique.

Methods: From May 2004 to February 2007, 16 cases with severe kyphosis (average 90.8 degrees, range 50 degrees-130 degrees) were treated with segmental resection osteotomy, section distraction, dual axial rotation correction and instrumentation fusion technique.