Abstract:[Objective] To compare the clinical outcomes of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) with or without posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) removal for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). [Methods] A retrospective study was done on 81 patients who received single-segment ACCF for CSM in our hospital from March 2017 to March 2022. According to whether calcification of PLL was seen on preoperative images and the intraoperative findings, the PLL was retained in 38 patients (the retained group), whereas was resected in the other 43 patients (the resected group). The perioperative, follow-up and imaging data of the two groups were compared. [Results] All patients in both groups had corresponding surgical procedures conducted successfully. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the number of fluoroscopy, the total incision length, postoperative ambulation time, incision healing grade and hospital stay (P>0.05), the retained group proved significantly superior to the resected group in terms of the early complication rate (13.2% vs 34.9%, P=0.024), operation time [(110.3±11.4) min vs (147.2±13.4) min, P<0.001] and intraoperative blood loss [(61.7±10.2) ml vs (133.7±12.0) ml, P<0.001]. The follow-up period lasted for (22.6±13.1) months in a mean, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the time to return to full weight-bearing activities (P>0.05). The NDI and JOA scores and pyramidal tract signs improved significantly over time in both groups (P<0.05). The retained group proved significantly inferior to the resected group regarding JOA score at 3 months postoperatively [(10.5±1.9) vs (11.4±2.5), P<0.001], 6 months [(12.4±2.5) vs (13.7±2.1), P=0.026], and at the latest followup [(13.3±2.2) vs (14.8±1.7), P<0.001], but there were no statistically significant differences in NDI scores and pyramidal tract signs between the two groups at any time points accordingly (P>0.05). Radiologically, the cervical lordosis and minimum sagittal diameter of the spinal canal significantly increased (P<0.001), while the cervical ROM significantly reduced in both groups at the last follow-up compared with those preoperatively (P<0.001). At the last follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences in the cervical lordosis and ROM between the two groups (P>0.05), however, the retained group was significantly less than the resected group in term of minimum sagittal diameter of the responsible segment [(9.0±0.8) mm vs (9.8±0.9) mm, P<0.001]. [Conclusion] As singlesegment ACCF is performed for CSM, PLL should be resected according to preoperative imaging data and intraoperative findings. Although PLL resection does provide better decompression, it leads to more iatrogenic trauma and high risk of complications.