title: Cervical myelopathy secondary to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in a Caucasian patient.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, General Hospital, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Maroun
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arts
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: 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