Objective To summarize the outcome of treatment for thoracic vertebra ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF)with en-bloc removal of the spinal canal’s posterior wall termed as the “thinned cap uncovering”technique.Methods From 2003 to 2013,56 patients with OLF were treated with thinned cap uncovering technique.In this group,there were 40 male patients and 1 6 female ones,with the average age of 45 years (range of 30-65 years)and the average history of 3 years.The 56 patients were followed up for an average duration of 2 years and 7 months (1-5 years).Results According to WANG’s evaluation,45 cases (about 80%) had excellent results,9 cases (about 1 6%)had good results,and 3 cases had improved symptoms,the excellence to good rates being 96%.Conclusion Removal of the posterior wall of the spinal canal via “thinned cap uncovering”technique is a reliable and effective treatment for thoracic OLF.The strategy for successful operation is to use high speed drill to cut bone accurately,which allows discectomy for thoracic vertebra and to diminish faults and complications during the surgical procedure.

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of treating odontoid fractures in the Chinese population with two cortical screws based on computed tomography (CT) scans and describe a new measurement strategy to guide screw insertion in treating these fractures. Methods: A retrospective review of cervical computed tomographic scans of 128 patients (aged 18–76 years; men, 55 [43.0%]) was performed. The minimum external transverse diameter (METD), minimum external anteroposterior diameter (MEAD), maximum screw length (MSL), and screw projection back angle (SPBA) of the odontoid process were measured on coronal and sagittal CT images. Results: The mean values of METD and MEAD were 10.0 ± 1.1 mm and 12.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively, in men and 9.2 ± 1.0 mm and 11.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively, in women. Both measurements were significantly higher in men (p < 0.001). In total, 87 individuals (68%) had METD > 9.0 mm that could accommodate two 3.5-mm cortical screws. The mean MSL value and SPBA range were 34.4 ± 2.9 mm and 13.5°–24.2°, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between men and women. Conclusions The insertion of two 3.5-mm cortical screws was possible for anterior fixation of odontoid fractures in 87 patients (68%) in our study, and there was a statistically significant difference between men and women.