To restore his lower limb motor function, experts from the Long March Hospital used independently developed surgery to paralyze him and stay in bed for 3 months. Outpatient | Sir | Surgery
Three months ago, 39 year old Mr. Yang was able to walk, work, and live normally. But due to sudden weakness and numbness in his lower limbs, he underwent a lumbar spine surgery, and his condition rapidly worsened after the surgery, resulting in urinary and fecal incontinence and lower limb paralysis. This result is a bolt from the blue for the family. "I was fine before, why did I suddenly become paralyzed?"
After traveling to multiple hospitals, Mr. Yang accompanied his mother to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University. Shi Jiangang, the director of the cervical and lumbar spine department of the orthopedics department, received him in the outpatient department. Mr. Yang was initially diagnosed with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae.
Shi Jiangang told reporters that ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae is the main culprit causing paralysis in patients. "Osteosis of the posterior longitudinal ligament, in layman's terms, refers to the condition where the diseased ligament turns into a bone, and the ossified ligament compresses the spinal cord. If the spinal cord becomes too heavy, it will suddenly strike." He explained that Mr. Yang's current situation is that due to compression, the spinal cord loses its ability to direct lower limb movements, resulting in urinary and fecal incontinence and paralysis.
After a comprehensive and systematic examination at the orthopedic department of Shanghai Long March Hospital, doctors found that Mr. Yang had a long longitudinal ligament segment after ossification of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, extending from the 2nd cervical segment to the 8th thoracic segment of the spinal canal, and occupying a compressed space. Among them, the ossified longitudinal ligament of the thoracic vertebrae severely compresses the spinal cord. Shi Jiangang bluntly stated that ossification involves multiple segments and has a large thickness, which compresses the spinal cord into a "straight line" and leaves very little survival space for the spinal cord. To rescue the spinal cord from such a state is like "a very long bone growing in an egg". Without breaking the egg, removing the bone carries a predictable surgical risk, and a slight mistake may further worsen the condition.
Mr. Yang is suffering from diffuse ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the thoracic spine. In the past, posterior thoracic decompression surgery was usually chosen. Although total laminectomy is relatively safe and simple, it cannot remove ossification and can only achieve palliative treatment through indirect decompression, with a high recurrence rate. Mr. Yang's spinal cord compression comes from the front, and after indirect decompression, the spinal cord of the thoracic vertebrae does not have enough space to move backward, which cannot guarantee the therapeutic effect. However, subtotal vertebral resection and decompression through anterior or lateral approaches can directly remove ossification, but it can easily lead to complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and spinal cord injury, which many doctors are hesitant about.
![To restore his lower limb motor function, experts from the Long March Hospital used independently developed surgery to paralyze him and stay in bed for 3 months. Outpatient | Sir | Surgery](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/0b75412baf7e84167b22e2d676c424c2.jpeg)
After in-depth communication with Mr. Yang and his family, the experts discussed Mr. Yang's condition many times and formulated a thorough surgical plan and various emergency treatment plans. After several comprehensive evaluations, the treatment group decided to adopt the innovative technique invented by Shi Jiangang. This surgical approach can reduce the difficulty of surgery, reduce complications and improve postoperative efficacy. However, in this way, the operation is more complicated and must be millimeter-level accurate without hurting the spinal cord, but for the patient, the benefit is greater.
The surgery lasted for 7 hours and was ultimately successful. Shi Jiangang stated that this is a new breakthrough for the hospital in spinal surgery. On the day after surgery, Mr. Yang clearly observed muscle contraction in both lower limbs, and his legs could move horizontally on the bed surface, feeling "relaxed". On the 4th day after surgery, Mr. Yang's legs can be lifted off the bed surface. The patient's lower limb function will gradually improve and enhance with the rehabilitation process, and there is great hope for them to stand and walk again in the future.
Shi Jiangang introduced that paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is known as an irreversible "global problem". Their team has successfully treated dozens of patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae using independently developed advanced technology.