STUDY DESIGN:: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE:: To describe a safe surgical procedure, en bloc resection of the posterior wall of the thoracic canal, for the decompression of severe @entity602 caused by tuberous ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:: OLF has been widely recognized as a cause of @entity602 in East Asia. Surgical decompression of @entity602 caused by OLF is technically demanding. Although several surgical decompression procedures have been described, acute @entity16 is common. METHODS:: Eighteen @entity1 with severe @entity602 caused by tuberous OLF underwent posterior decompression via segmental en bloc resection of the posterior wall of the thoracic canal. The ossified ligamentum flavum, laminae, and partial facet joints of each segment were resected en bloc. Ossified dura mater was removed if present. Posterior fixation with pedicle screws was followed by lateral bone graft fusion. RESULTS:: The mean preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score (total score, 11) was 4.1 (range, 2-5). Postoperatively, no @entity16 occurred, and all @entity1 improved clinically. With an average follow-up of 31.2 months (range, 24-42 mo), the average mJOA score was 7.8 (range, 6-10), representing a 2-5-point improvement. The average improvement rate was 55.2% (range, 33.3%-83.3%). Most @entity1 were functionally independent at the last follow-up. Forty ossified segments were resected. The average time required for the resection of one segment was 77 minutes. Intraoperatively, dural ossification was noted in 11 @entity1 . Complete resection was performed in all @entity1 . @entity5173 occurred in 5 @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS:: Segmental en bloc resection of the posterior wall of the thoracic canal is a safe and effective alternative for OLF-related severe @entity602 .

Surgical Technique for Decompression of Severe XXXX Due to Tuberous Ossification of Ligamentum Flavum.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity5173 :: ('MESH:D065634', 'Disease') :: ['Cerebrospinal fluid leakage'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['neurological deterioration'] @entity602 :: ('MESH:D013118', 'Disease') :: ['thoracic myelopathy']
@entity602 :: (MESH:D013118,Disease) :: ['Thoracic Myelopathy']
