[Bone mineral analysis in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine].
The bone mineral content of the radial metaphysis, the radial diaphysis, the third lumbar vertebral bone and the second metacarpal bone were measured in 78 patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and the results were compared with those of 170 age-matched controls. The following results were obtained. Bone mineral content was decreased in cases scoring less than 12 points in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) myelopathy score. In males, the mild myelopathy group showed a significantly higher bone mineral content than the control group. In females, however, there was no significant difference between the mild myelopathy and control groups. This may be explained by the marked influence of age on the bone mineral content of females. These results suggest that mineral content in patients with OPLL has a tendency to increase, while the bone mineral content decreases in the severe myelopathy group.
Maezumi
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Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*