Neurological deterioration induced by sitting in patients after cervicothoracic posterior decompression with instrumented fusion surgery for ossification of the longitudinal ligament: two cases reports

BACKGROUND: We report on Japanese patients who showed neurological deterioration induced by sitting after cervicothoracic posterior decompression with instrumented fusion, but showed immediate neurological recovery after bed rest. CASE PRESENTATION: Patients showed incomplete paraparesis caused by the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament at uppermost thoracic spine. Cervicothoracic posterior decompression with instrumented fusion was performed. Postoperatively, the patients showed partial paraparesis when they were sitting. They showed rapid recovery from lower extremity paralysis upon lying down. After strict bed rest for one month, those patients showed no apparent development of paralysis during sitting. CONCLUSION: In patients with postoperative residual anterior spinal cord compression, micromotion might exacerbate neurological symptoms.