Surgical Outcome And Influencing Factors For Ossification Of The Ligamentum Flavum Of The Thoracic Spine

ObjectA retrospective clinical study of23cases of ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF).To inspect the clinical presentation, and evaluation Surgical outcome and Influencing factors.MethodsWe retrospectively select patients who underwent surgerys for thoracic myelopathy due to TOLF between July2009and December2013. And data were measure preoperatively,1week postoperatively, and latest follow-up by JOA and ASIA. Surgical outcome and Influencing factors were assessed using JOA recovery rate (RR). Complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage were recorded.ResultsTwenty-three patients were included in this study.11male and12female; ages ranging between29-77years,with follow-up between5-50months,mean follow-up25.3months. Mean JOA score was6.83±1.35before surgery,8.65±1.11at1week postoperatively, and9.78+0.91at latest follow-up. A longer duration of preoperative symptoms and continuous type were related to poor prognosis.ConclusionPosterior thoracic extensive decompressive laminectomy gives satisfactory results and leads to significant clinical improvement. Early diagnosis and su□cient surgical treatment play key roles in improving functional outcomes.