2016 Volume 25 Issue 9 Pages 730-736
Anterior decompression and expansive laminoplasty are widely utilized surgical procedures for the treatment of symptomatic cervical ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). However, surgical intervention must be cautiously prepared to avoid postoperative neurological deterioration and surgical complications. In this article, the natural history of OPLL progression, the indications for anterior and posterior surgery, the preoperative assessment of dural ossification for anterior surgery and the necessity of fusion for posterior surgery are all reviewed and the optimal surgical strategy criteria are discussed.
