title: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a report of nine cases in non-Oriental patients.
abstract: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a progressive disorder of the spine which may result in spinal cord compression and myelopathy. While prevalent among Japanese, its occurrence in non-Orientals has been infrequently reported. Nine patients with OPLL have been diagnosed and followed at the Emory Clinic Spine Center over a 5-year period. All of the patients had been misdiagnosed before presentation. Five of the nine had undergone a total of eight ineffective operations. Failure to distinguish OPLL from other more common causes of myelopathy can result in delayed or inappropriate treatment. Illustrative cases and radiographic studies are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography