Cervical myelopathy secondary to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in a Caucasian patient.
Cervical myelopathy consequent on ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is very rare in Caucasians. A 65-year-old Anglo-Saxon woman developed progressive gait disturbance, paresthesia in both legs and urinary urge incontinence. Radiological examination showed OPLL from fifth to seventh cervical vertebral level; the dense OPLL was graphically displayed by three-dimensional computerized tomography. Medial corpectomy, C5 to C7, and removal of OPLL, with subsequent fusion C4 to T1 using a free fibula graft resulted in clinical improvement. Three dimensional computerized tomographic imaging is a valuable diagnostic procedure in OPLL.
Maroun
F B
FB
Division of Neurosurgery, General Hospital, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Makino
A P
AP
Tong
T R
TR
Perkins
P G
PG
Arts
R
R
Jacob
J C
JC
Reddy
R
R
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D044465:White People