Does the presence of preoperative neck pain impact clinical outcomes after posterior decompression in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament? Retrospective multicenter cohort study

Study design: Retrospective multicenter study. Objectives: To evaluate how preoperative neck pain influences clinical outcomes following posterior decompression for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Setting: Fourteen medical institutions in Japan. Methods: We enrolled 90 patients with cervical OPLL who underwent posterior decompression and were followed for a minimum of two years. We collected demographic data, medical history, and imaging findings. Patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative neck pain presence (Pre-op. neck pain (−) and (+) groups), and their outcomes were compared. Results: There were no significant differences in patient demographics between the Pre-op. neck pain (−) and (+) groups. Both groups showed similar distributions of ossification types and K-line positivity. Perioperative complications were comparable between the two groups. Radiographic analysis revealed no significant differences in C2–7 angles or cervical range of motion, pre- and postoperatively. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative Japanese orthopedic association (JOA) scores, but there were no significant differences in scores or recovery rates. In the Pre-op. neck pain (−) group, factors associated with appearance of postoperative neck pain included pre- and postoperative lower JOA scores and larger C2–7 angles in neutral and extension positions. Conclusions: It emerges that lower pre- and postoperative JOA scores or larger C2–7 angles in neutral and extension positions predispose to postoperative neck pain even in those patients without preoperative neck pain. Therefore, this is worth discussing at the time of consenting patients for surgical decompression and fixation.