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Figure 1

From: Neurological improvement is associated with neck pain attenuation after surgery for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Figure 1

Methods for imaging analyses. (A) OPLL was classified into 4 types (continuous, segmental, mixed and localized types). (B) Canal narrowing rate was calculated as followings, thickness of OPLL at peak (b)/antero-posterior diameter (a), in lateral radiogram of cervical spine in neutral position. (C) C2-7 angle was measured as angle between inferior endplates of C2 and C7 vertebral bodies (C). Lordosis curve was expressed as positive value and kyphosis curve was expressed as negative value. Post-operative change of C2-7 angle was calculated as subtraction of postoperative C2-7 angle from preoperative C2-7 angle. (D) C2-7 range of motion (ROM) was calculated as subtraction of C2-7 angle from extension position to flexion position (D), and change of C2-7 range of motion was calculated as (preoperative C2-7 ROM)—(postoperative C2-7 ROM)). (D) Spinal cord signal intensity change in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 weighted image were assessed because the intramedullary signal change had been reported as one of the imaging factors for prediction of surgical outcome (E, arrow).

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