Weijun Kong1, Jun Ao1, Guangru Cao1, Tongxia Xia1, Lei Liu1, Wenbo Liao2. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China. Electronic address: wenbo900@sina.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a percutaneous full endoscopic transcorporeal procedure to excise local ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) lesions and decompress the spinal cord at the cervicothoracic transitional segment is safe and effective with respect to surgical complications. METHODS: A 67-year-old woman presented with nuchal pain and numbness below the T2 dermatome for 3 months and a 2-week history of paraplegia. T1-T2 myelopathy and paraplegia caused by OPLL was diagnosed based on clinical presentation, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. An anterior percutaneous full endoscopic transcorporeal procedure addressed local OPLL and achieved local spinal cord decompression at T1-T2. After surgery, magnetic resonance imaging was repeated to evaluate degree of spinal cord decompression. Visual analog scale, Neck Disability Index, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were evaluated at each follow-up. RESULTS: The patient tolerated the full endoscopic operation successfully. Operative time was 225 minutes. On postoperative day 6, muscle strength of the bilateral lower extremities had progressed from grade 0/5 preoperatively to grade 2-/5 on the right and grade 2+/5 on the left. No surgery-related complications were discovered. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous full endoscopic transcorporeal procedure is an alternative to previously described surgical methods of local spinal cord decompression for T1-T2 OPLL with fewer complications, effective spinal cord decompression, and a satisfactory cosmetic result. Successful cases confirm that treatment of spinal cord-limited compression by endoscopic technology is feasible.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a percutaneous full endoscopic transcorporeal procedure to excise local ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) lesions and decompress the spinal cord at the cervicothoracic transitional segment is safe and effective with respect to surgical complications. METHODS: A 67-year-old woman presented with nuchal pain and numbness below the T2 dermatome for 3 months and a 2-week history of paraplegia. T1-T2 myelopathy and paraplegia caused by OPLL was diagnosed based on clinical presentation, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. An anterior percutaneous full endoscopic transcorporeal procedure addressed local OPLL and achieved local spinal cord decompression at T1-T2. After surgery, magnetic resonance imaging was repeated to evaluate degree of spinal cord decompression. Visual analog scale, Neck Disability Index, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were evaluated at each follow-up. RESULTS: The patient tolerated the full endoscopic operation successfully. Operative time was 225 minutes. On postoperative day 6, muscle strength of the bilateral lower extremities had progressed from grade 0/5 preoperatively to grade 2-/5 on the right and grade 2+/5 on the left. No surgery-related complications were discovered. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous full endoscopic transcorporeal procedure is an alternative to previously described surgical methods of local spinal cord decompression for T1-T2 OPLL with fewer complications, effective spinal cord decompression, and a satisfactory cosmetic result. Successful cases confirm that treatment of spinal cord-limited compression by endoscopic technology is feasible.