Residual Neuropathic Pain in Postoperative Patients With Cervical Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Abstract

Study Design: A prospective multi-institutional observational study. Objective: To investigate and identify risk factors for residual neuropathic pain after surgery in patients with cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (c-OPLL). Summary of Background Data: Patients with c-OPLL often require surgery for numbness and paralysis of the extremities; however, postoperative neuropathic pain can considerably deteriorate their quality of life. Methods: Out of 479 patients identified from multicenter c-OPLL registries between 2014 and 2017, 292 patients who could be followed up for 2 years postoperatively were reviewed, after excluding patients with nervous system comorbidities. Demographic details; medical history; radiographic factors including the K-line, spinal canal occupancy rate of OPLL, cervical kyphosis angle, and presence of spinal cord myelomalacia; preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score; surgical procedure (fusion or decompression surgery); postoperative neurological deterioration; and the visual analogue scale for pain and numbness in the upper extremities (U/E) or trunk/lower extremities (L/E) at baseline and at 2 years postoperatively were assessed. Patients were grouped into residual and non-residual groups based on a postoperative visual analogue scale ≥40 mm. Risk factors for residual neuropathic pain were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of U/E and L/E residual pain in postoperative c-OPLL patients was 51.7% and 40.4%, respectively. The U/E residual group had a poor preoperative JOA score and longer illness duration, and fusion surgery was more common in the residual group than in non-residual group. The L/E residual group was older with a poorer preoperative JOA score. On multivariate analysis, risk factors for U/E residual pain were long illness duration and poor preoperative JOA score, whereas those for L/E residual pain were age and poor preoperative JOA score. Conclusions: The risk factors for residual spinal neuropathic pain after c-OPLL surgery were age, long duration of illness, and poor preoperative JOA score. Level of Evidence: IV