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

Abstract Although favourable surgical outcomes for myelopathy caused by cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) have been reported, factors significantly associated with post-operative neck pain attenuation still remain unclear. The primary aim of the present study was to determine factors significantly associated with post-operative neck pain attenuation in patients with cervical OPLL using a prospective multi-centre registry of surgically treated cervical OPLL. Significant postoperative neck pain reduction (50% reduction of neck pain) was achieved in 31.3% of patients. There was no significant difference in neck pain attenuation between surgical procedures. Statistical analyses with univariate analyses followed by stepwise logistic regression revealed neurological recovery as a factor having a significant positive association with post-operative neck pain attenuation (p = 0.04, odds ratio 5.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.27–22.2)). In conclusion, neurological recovery was an independent factor having a significant positive association with post-operative neck pain attenuation in patients with cervical myelopathy caused by OPLL who underwent cervical spine surgery.