PMC7136555_01
(A) CT (left) and MRI (right) images of the cervical spine (A1) and thoracic spine (A2) before surgery. Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) was observed in the cervical and thoracic spine (from C2 to L1), where the spinal cord was being compressed. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) was also observed from C4 to L2. Herniated disc was observed at Th8/9. (B) The patient walking overground using Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) in the seventh HAL session. An All-in-One Walking Trainer device was also used to provide weight support and for safety. An assistant pulled the device in accordance with the patient's gait. (C) Walking distance using HAL in each session. The distance gradually increased through the sessions.
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F1
OPLL ranging from C2 to L1 (Figures 1A1,A2). On these examinations, thoracic myelopathy due to compression by the OPLL and instability at Th6/7, Th7/8, and Th8/9 were considered as the principal causes of the pathology. Gait training using HAL (Figure 1B) was applied starting at 43 POD, followed by two or three sessions per week, 10 sessions in total, spanning a 28-day period.