Mini-Thoracotomy and OPLL Resection

Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is known to occur well in the cervical spine, but it can also occur in the thoracic spine. OPLL in thoracic spine is usually progressive. So conservative treatment is usually unfavorable and surgical treatment is often needed. Several surgical techniques have been reported within categories of anterior and posterior approach but standard protocols for thoracic OPLL have not been established. Anterior decompression is an ideal method for complete removal of thoracic OPLL but this surgical approach requires high technical skills and use fusion techniques with bone graft implantation or spinal instrumentation. So mini-thoracotomy technique of anterior approach without fusion or instrumentation is devised and the result of this technique is favorable. This mini-thoracotomy and transthoracic anterior decompression technique have several benefits. It needs small skin incision and both bone graft implantation and spinal instrumentation are not needed. So the recovery periods of patients after the surgery is short.