Vertebral Body Rotational Osteotomy for Decompressing an Eccentrically Protruded Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Abstract

Vertebral body sliding osteotomy has been reported as a technique to manage cervical myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. It involves mobilization and anteriorly translating the vertebral body and ossified mass as a whole. The main advantage of the procedure is decreased rate of complication such as dural tear, implant dislodgement, and pseudarthrosis, which demonstrates high rate in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion. Vertebral body rotational osteotomy is a modification of vertebral body sliding osteotomy. It is indicated for laterally deviated ossified mass to achieve further decompression. This is a technical note describing the procedures of vertebral body rotational osteotomy.

Anterior Decompression and Fusion for the Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Narrative Review

“…This is followed by the application of an anterior cervical plate and tightening of the screws, allowing for further translation of the vertebral body-OPLL complex anteriorly ( Fig. 3 ) [ 16 , 87 ]. Yang et al [ 88 ] described a similar technique called “anterior controllable ante-displacement fusion” and demonstrated that anterior translational osteotomy could result in favorable outcomes.…”