Thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (TOPLL) is a rare condition associated with ectopic bone formation in the thoracic spine. A long-term follow-up study from Japan shows significant and lasting improvement in outcomes with posterior decompression and fixation surgery for patients with T-OPLL, reports The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
"Surgical treatment of T-OPLL is effective in improving neurological function, quality of life, and pain management over an extended period," according to the new research by Hiroaki Nakashima, MD, PhD, and colleagues of Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. New evidence on long-term outcomes of surgery for T-OPLL Patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament have ectopic bone growth in the spinal column, resulting in neurological signs and symptoms. Most cases involve the cervical spine.
Although thoracic involvement is less common, it is prone to delayed diagnosis and often goes undetected until severe symptoms develop. Japan has the highest prevalence of T-OPLL. Studies of operatively treated T-OPLL have reported better outcomes when spinal decompression is combined with fixation.
To assess the long-term outcomes of this procedure, the researchers analyzed follow-up data on 51 patients undergoing posterior decompression and corrective fixation surgery for T-OPLL. The patients, who had an average age of 51.6 years, u.