Open Access

Biomechanical analysis of cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: Effects of posterior decompression and kyphosis following decompression

  • Authors:
    • Norihiro Nishida
    • Tsukasa Kanchiku
    • Yoshihiko Kato
    • Yasuaki Imajo
    • Yuichiro Yoshida
    • Syunichi Kawano
    • Toshihiko Taguchi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 18, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1557
  • Pages: 1095-1099
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Abstract

Cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) results in myelopathy. Conservative treatment is usually ineffective, thus, surgical treatment is required. One of the reasons for the poor surgical outcome following laminoplasty for cervical OPLL is kyphosis. In the present study, a 3-dimensional finite element method (3D-FEM) was used to analyze the stress distribution in preoperative, posterior decompression and kyphosis models of OPLL. The 3D-FEM spinal cord model established in this study consisted of gray and white matter, as well as pia mater. For the preoperative model, 30% anterior static compression was applied to OPLL. For the posterior decompression model, the lamina was shifted backwards and for the kyphosis model, the spinal cord was studied at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50˚ kyphosis. In the preoperative model, high stress distributions were observed in the spinal cord. In the posterior decompression model, stresses were lower than those observed in the preoperative model. In the kyphosis model, an increase in the angle of kyphosis resulted in augmented stress on the spinal cord. Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that posterior decompression was effective, but stress distribution increased with the progression of kyphosis. In cases where kyphosis progresses following surgery, detailed follow‑ups are required in case the symptoms worsen.
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May-2014
Volume 7 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Nishida N, Kanchiku T, Kato Y, Imajo Y, Yoshida Y, Kawano S and Taguchi T: Biomechanical analysis of cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: Effects of posterior decompression and kyphosis following decompression. Exp Ther Med 7: 1095-1099, 2014.
APA
Nishida, N., Kanchiku, T., Kato, Y., Imajo, Y., Yoshida, Y., Kawano, S., & Taguchi, T. (2014). Biomechanical analysis of cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: Effects of posterior decompression and kyphosis following decompression. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 7, 1095-1099. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1557
MLA
Nishida, N., Kanchiku, T., Kato, Y., Imajo, Y., Yoshida, Y., Kawano, S., Taguchi, T."Biomechanical analysis of cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: Effects of posterior decompression and kyphosis following decompression". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 7.5 (2014): 1095-1099.
Chicago
Nishida, N., Kanchiku, T., Kato, Y., Imajo, Y., Yoshida, Y., Kawano, S., Taguchi, T."Biomechanical analysis of cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: Effects of posterior decompression and kyphosis following decompression". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 7, no. 5 (2014): 1095-1099. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1557