Posterior longitudinal ligament resection during microscopic anterior cervical discectomy: technique and safety consideration

Egyptian Journal of Neurosurgery

Table 2 Operative details, complications, and degree of pain and motor grade (n = 145)

		All patients (145)
Timing till surgery (days)	Min–Max	< 24 h–36
Timing till surgery (days)	Median (IQR)	4 (3–6)
Level of surgery	One level	141	97.2%
	Two levels	4	2.8%
	C3-C4	14	9.7%
	C4-C5	32	22.8%
	C5-C6	77	53.1%
	C6-C7	22	15.2%
PLL in MRI	Interrupted	88	60.7%
PLL in MRI	Stretched	57	39.3%
location of disk fragments	No subligamentous fragment	57	39.3%
	Subligamentous central	21	14.5%
	Subligamentous central and lateral	7	4.8%
	Subligamentous lateral	60	41.4%
Intra-operative events	Bleeding from vascular cuff around root	67	46.2%
Intra-operative events	Incidental durotomy	1	0.7%
Postoperative VAS (early)	Min–Max	0–6
Postoperative VAS (early)	Median (IQR)	4 (0–4)
Postoperative VAS (late)	Min–Max	0–3
Postoperative VAS (late)	Median (IQR)	2 (0–2)
Postoperative motor grade	Min–Max	0–5
Postoperative motor grade	Median (IQR)	5 (5–5)

IQR interquartile range, Min minimum, Max maximum, SD standard deviation, PLL posterior longitudinal ligament, VAS visual analog scale