Journal de la colonne vertébrale

Improvement of Walking Ability Using Hybrid Assistive Limb Training in a Patient with Severe Thoracic Myelopathy caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament - A Case Report

Abstract

Shigeki Kubota, Tetsuya Abe, Kengo Fujii, Aiki Marushima, Tomoyuki Ueno, Ayumu Haginoya, Ayumu Endo, Hideki Kadone, Hiroaki Kawamoto, Yukiyo Shimizu, Yasushi Hada, Akira Matsumura, Yoshiyuki Sankai and Masashi Yamazaki

The purpose of this study was to report the improvement of walking ability using Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) training in a case of severe thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). The patient received HAL training 2-3 times per week (10 sessions) beginning on the thirteenth postoperative day. The patient’s walking ability and lower muscles strength were significantly improved. It suggests that HAL training in the early postoperative phase has the potential to be an effective rehabilitation tool to improve functional ambulation in surgically-treated thoracic OPLL patients with inability of walk.