Postoperative results were evaluated in 9 patients (5 males and 4 females) with ossification of spinal ligaments in the cervical and thoracic spine. The mean follow-up period was 14.2 months. The age at the time of operation ranged from 45 to 79 years with a mean of 58.2 years. Cervical laminoplasty and thoracic laminectomy were performed on 9 patients, simultaneously or additionally.
The mean recovery rate using Hirabayashi's method was 51.6%. In the simultaneous decompression group, the operative result was better. The operative result of the extensive ossification group was worse than that of localized group.
We consider simultaneous decompression to be effective in patients with ossification of spinal ligaments in both the cervical and thoracic spines, and whose spinal cord is compressed at multiple levels.
