CERVICAL LAMINOPLASTY;

Background and Objectives: To analyze the functional outcome of open doorlaminoplasty (ODL) for the treatment of Cervical Ossified Posterior Longitudinal Ligament(OPLL). Study Design: Case series study. Setting: Civil Hospital Karachi. Period: 05 years,2013 to 2017. Material & Methods: 18 patients (15 Male, 3 Female) underwent ODL for cervicalOPLL, over a period of 5 years. Pre-operative & post- operative degree of myelopathy wasassessed using Nurick grading score. Patients with Nurick grade > 2 were included in study.MRI compatible titanium micro plates & screws were used. Instability was assessed by X-rayCervical Spine obtained 6 weeks post-operatively. Results: Mean age of presentation was 52years. 2 to 3 levels were involved in most cases. Mean operative time was 2 hours 30 minutes.Following Nurick grading 94.4% (n=17) improved by grade 1 or more, while in only 5.6%(n=1) it remained same. No instability or kyphotic deformity was seen on follow up X-rays.Conclusion: ODL is a safe & effective procedure for the treatment of multiple level OPLL. Itcan avoid complications related to the anterior approach (like unintentional durotomy & spinalcord injury) and diminished the possibility of instability & kyphotic deformity associated withlaminectomy alone.