Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) is a common spinal disease which can lead to neurological dysfunction and its morbidity is related to genetic factors. OPLL is usually found in cervical spine and characterized by hypertrophy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the rear of the corresponding cervical vertebral body, which can encroach the space in the spinal canal and compress the spinal cord and/or nerve roots of the corresponding segments, resulting in sensory and motor disorders of the limbs as well as visceral autonomic nervous dysfunction, leading to neurological dysfunction and even high paraplegia. It not only causes great harm but also brings heavy economic and spiritual burden to patients and society.~Although the surgical treatments for OPLL include anterior and posterior approach, the anterior approach requires excellent equipment and rich operation experience for surgery doctor. Many articles showed significantly higher complications rate in anterior approach than that of posterior approach. Posterior approach surgery is considered to be one of the effective treatment methods for OPLL in cervical spine. In the posterior approach, there are two commonly recognized surgical procedures, laminoplasty and laminectomy with fusion. The efficacy of laminoplasty and laminectomy with fusion for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament with high occupation rate in the cervical spine is not clear in the literature report so far. This study is designed to further research the difference in efficacy between the two surgical methods. The purpose of this study is to make patients get the biggest medical benefits and to make a right surgical treatment strategy when doctors treating patients with high occupation rate OPLL in cervical spine.
The efficacy of laminoplasty and laminectomy with fusion for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament with high occupation rate in the cervical spine is not clear in the literature report so far. This study is designed to further research the difference in efficacy between the two surgical methods.