A muscle-preserving, spinous process-splitting approach may be a less invasive approach to conventional laminectomy in patients with thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum. Few reports have discussed the usefulness of this procedure for thoracic lesions in professional athletes who need highly active thoracic spinal function after surgery. The treatment of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum using a spinous process-splitting approach in 3 professional athletes is presented. In all three cases the patients could return to play within 3 months after surgery without complications, and in two of the cases, there was no spinal deformity or local recurrence of ossification of the ligamentum flavum at the final follow-up at least 8 years after surgery. The spinous process-splitting approach could be a safe procedure for multi-level and all other forms of ossification of the ligamentum flavum and is less invasive to the paraspinal muscles, relieves back symptoms, and restores function for athletes.
Abstract/References
A muscle-preserving, spinous process-splitting approach for ossification of the ligamentum flavum in the thoracic spine in professional athletes: a report of three cases
Kinshi Kato, Shoji Yabuki, Koji Otani, Takuya Nikaido, Kenichi Otoshi, Kazuyuki Watanabe, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Shin-ichi Konno
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Kinshi Kato
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Shoji Yabuki
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Koji Otani
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Takuya Nikaido
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Kenichi Otoshi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Kazuyuki Watanabe
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Hiroshi Kobayashi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
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Shin-ichi Konno
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
Abstract
References
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Abbreviations
OLF, ossification of the ligamentum flavum
MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
CT, computed tomography