Comparison of the Short-Term Efficacy of Percutaneous Endoscopic Thoracic Decompression and Laminectomy in the Treatment of Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum

- OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the shorttional posterior thoracic laminectomy (PTL) in treating single-segment thoracic ossification of the ligamentum- METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the September 2017 and September 2021. Based on the inclusion criteria, a total of 52 patients were included in the present research, 26 in the PETD group and 26 in the PTL group. The general preoperative data, intraoperative surgical conditions, preoperative and postoperative clinical information, and complications were collected. The modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score and recovery rate were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.- RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline parameters in either group (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in operation time (94.62 vs. 144.62 minute) and blood loss (22.12 vs. 287.69 mL) between the PETD group and the PTL group. The groups improved from (5.46 +/- 1.10) and (5.69 +/- 1.01) preoperatively to (9.08 +/- 0.90) and (8.88 +/- 1.07) at 12 months postoperatively. The recovery rate was 84.6% in the PETD group and 76.9% in the PTL group. In addition, the com-plications in the PETD group were fewer than those in the PTL group.-CONCLUSIONS: The PETD under local anesthesia for T-OLF has many advantages, such as high patient accep-tance, good short-term clinical outcomes, and few com-plications; therefore, this procedure should be promoted as a viable treatment option for T-OLF.