title: A rare neurological presentation due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine and ankylosing spondylitis: case report.
abstract: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) may be associated with certain rheumatic conditions including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) or spondylosis. More than 95% of all OPLL are localized at the cervical spine. Herein, we report a case of OPLL at the thoracic spine in an HLA-B27-positive female patient with ankylosing spondylitis. The patient was presented to use with spastic paraparesis. The imaging studies included plain roentgenograms, tomograms, myelo-CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A continuous rod-like ossification along the posterior aspects of the fourth to sixth thoracic vertebrae with spinal cord compression was noted. The patient underwent a laminectomy from T4 to T6. At the second year follow-up examination, residual upper back soreness and mild left thigh pain were noted. However, the patient had resumed a full daily schedule and could walk freely without any support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed