The Association Between Spinal Cord Compression Angle And Symptoms And Prognosis Of Patients With OPLL

Background Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL)is a disorder of neurological dysfunction caused by compression of the spinal cord and nerves.In the past,the study on the timing of operation and selection of surgical procedures for patients with OPLL had been based on the studies of occupancy rate,spinal cord compression cross-sectional area and spinal canal volume.However,The study of the relationship between angle and patient's clinical manifestations and prognosis is relatively few.Therefore,this study used spinal cord compression angle as a factor to evaluate the clinical symptoms and prognosis of patients,in order to better serve the clinical.Objective The spinal cord compression angle of OPLL patients was measured by cervical MRI.The clinical symptoms and prognosis of OPLL patients were analyzed retrospectively.Methods 42 cases of cervical OPLL were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from June 2014 to May 2016.The spinal compression angle was measured on the sagittal plane of MRI,and the linear correlation analysis was made between the preoperative JOA score,the final follow-up JOA score and the improvement rate of JOA.Results The patients were followed up for 12~36 months with an average of 27 months.The nerve function were evaluated by modified JOA score.There was a linear negative correlation between spinal compression angle and preoperative JOA score,final follow-up JOA score and JOA improvement rate(P<0.001),The correlation coefficients were-0.906,-0.912,-0.793.Conclusion Spinal cord compression angle can be used as a factor to evaluate the clinical symptoms and prognosis of patients with OPLL.The greater the compression angle of the spinal cord,the worse the clinical symptoms of patients,and the worse the curative effect is.