I have been diagnosed with severe cervical stenosis from C-3 to C-7 and OPLL (Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament). I understand that OPLL affects only about 0.2% of the caucasion population and I'm not really clear on its cause. Canal size on MRI is 4.9 in some areas, so compression is beginning to cause symptoms such as numbness of hands, difficulty w/motor skills in hands, leg weakness on left side, etc. I have received four surgical opinions, ranging from laminectomy to laminoplasty to anterior vertebrectomy to posterior fusion. To say the least, I am more confused than ever. After careful consideration, I think I am ready to commit to the laminoplasty as my best option - but I am curious as to why there are so few surgeons who seem to know and perform this surgical technique. Is it simply a matter of preference on the part of the surgeon or is there a better explanation? I've done substantial research, but just don't see a lot of information that is truly current and up to date. Apparently, none of the surgeons want to touch the OPLL and the consensus (except for one) is to do a posterior approach and simply relieve the pressure. I am just curious as to some of the disadvantages of the laminoplasty and why it is not as widely accepted as laminectomy, when it appears to offer a safer alternative?