Abstract
Purpose
Anterior approach to the upper thoracic spine is difficult. It is important for spine surgeons to know the indication and the effect of anterior decompression for upper thoracic lesions and also to recognize the complications which are related to the approach with sternotomy. We present two patients for whom we took the sternum-splitting anterior approach for thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) following posterior decompression and fusion surgery; the clinical course and surgical outcome are discussed, with particular reference to complication avoidance and also we review the previous literature.
Methods
We present two cases with severe upper thoracic OPLL. The maximum occupying ratio of OPLL against the spinal canal was more than 80% in both cases. Posterior decompression and fusion were not effective and, therefore, anterior surgery with sternotomy was carried out.
Results
Cerebrospinal fluid leak was encountered with the removal of OPLL using the anterior approach. Subsequently, a polyglycolic acid sheet was used to cover the defect in the dura matter; a thoracic drainage system with a continuous suction unit was positioned at the surgical wound to avoid fluid retention in the mediastinum. In addition, we facilitated spinal drainage from the lumbar level. These procedures resulted in no complication caused by fluid retention in the mediastinum.
Conclusion
Both a safe surgical approach and preventive measures to alleviate postoperative complications are mandatory in difficult cases with thoracic OPLL.
References
Matsumoto M, Chiba K, Toyama Y et al (2008) Surgical results and related factors for ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine: a multi-institutional retrospective study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 33(9):1034–1041
Kojima T, Waga S, Kubo Y et al (1994) Surgical treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the thoracic spine. Neurosurgery 34(5):854–858
Ido K, Shimizu K, Nakayama Y et al (1995) Anterior decompression and fusion for ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in the thoracic spine. J Spinal Disord 8(4):317–323
Fujimura Y, Nishi Y, Nakamura M et al (1996) Anterior decompression and fusion for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the upper thoracic spine causing myelopathy: using the manubrium splitting approach. Spinal Cord 34(7):387–393
Min JH, Jang JS, Lee SH (2008) Clinical results of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the thoracic spine treated by anterior decompression. J Spinal Disord Tech 21(2):116–119
An HS, Vaccaro A, Cotler JM et al (1994) Spinal disorders at the cervicothoracic junction. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 19(22):2557–2564
An HS, Wise JJ, Xu R (1999) Anatomy of the cervicothoracic junction: a study of cadaveric dissection, cryomicrotomy, and magnetic resonance imaging. J Spinal Disord 12(6):519–525
Sattarov KV, Fard SA, Patel AS et al (2015) Peribrachiocephalic approaches to the anterior cervicothoracic spine. J Clin Neurosci 22(11):1822–1826
Kurz LT, Pursel SE, Herkowitz HN (1991) Modified anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 16(10 Suppl):S542–S547
Luk KD, Cheung KM, Leong JC (2002) Anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction by unilateral or bilateral manubriotomy. A report of five cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A(6):1013–1017
Mihir B, Vinod L, Umesh M et al (2006) Anterior instrumentation of the cervicothoracic vertebrae: approach based on clinical and radiologic criteria. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 31(9):E244–E249
Falavigna A, Righesso O, Teles AR (2011) Anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction: proposed indication for manubriotomy based on preoperative computed tomography findings. J Neurosurg Spine 15(1):38–47
Lam FC, Groff MW (2011) An anterior approach to spinal pathology of the upper thoracic spine through a partial manubriotomy. J Neurosurg Spine 15(5):467–471
Tarantino R, Donnarumma P, Marruzzo D et al (2013) Anterior surgical approaches to the cervicothoracic junction: when to use the manubriotomy? Spine J 13(9):1064–1068
Lee JG, Kim HS, Ju CI et al (2016) Clinical features of herniated disc at cervicothoracic junction level treated by anterior approach. Korean J Spine 13(2):53–56
Knöller SM, Brethner L (2002) Surgical treatment of the spine at the cervicothoracic junction: an illustrated review of a modified sternotomy approach with the description of tricks and pitfalls. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 122(6):365–368
Maciejczak A, Radek A, Kowalewski J et al (1999) Anterior transsternal approach to the upper thoracic spine. Acta Chir Hung 38(1):83–86
Teng H, Hsiang J, Wu C et al (2009) Surgery in the cervicothoracic junction with an anterior low suprasternal approach alone or combined with manubriotomy and sternotomy: an approach selection method based on the cervicothoracic angle. J Neurosurg Spine 10(6):531–542
Hodgson AR, Stock FE (1956) Anterior spinal fusion. A preliminary communication on the radical treatment of Pott’s disease and Pott’s paraplegia. Br J Surg 44(185):266–275
Cho JY, Chan CK, Lee SH et al (2012) Management of cerebrospinal fluid leakage after anterior decompression for ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in the thoracic spine: the utilization of a volume-controlled pseudomeningocele. J Spinal Disord Tech 25(4):E93–E102
Kawaguchi Y, Nakano M, Yasuda T et al (2014) Anterior decompressive surgery after cervical laminoplasty in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine J 14(6):955–963
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
All authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kawaguchi, Y., Seki, S., Yahara, Y. et al. Sternum-splitting anterior approach following posterior decompression and fusion in patients with massive ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the upper thoracic spine: report of 2 cases and literature review. Eur Spine J 27 (Suppl 3), 335–341 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5244-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5244-y