Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
Definitions
Ossification within spinal posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
Fluoroscopic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Bernstein DN et al: National trends and complications in the surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 44(22):1550-7, 2019
Ohara Y: Ossification of the ligaments in the cervical spine, including ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and ossification of the ligamentum flavum. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 29(1):63-8, 2018
Fehlings MG et al: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: current state of the art and future directions. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 38(22 Suppl 1):S1-8, 2013
Li H et al: A systematic review of complications in cervical spine surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine J. 11(11):1049-57, 2011
Saetia K et al: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a review. Neurosurg Focus. 30(3):E1, 2011
Shin JH et al: Dorsal versus ventral surgery for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: considerations for approach selection and review of surgical outcomes. Neurosurg Focus. 30(3):E8, 2011
Matsunaga S et al: Radiographic predictors for the development of myelopathy in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a multicenter cohort study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 33(24):2648-50, 2008
Inamasu J et al: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: an update on its biology, epidemiology, and natural history. Neurosurgery. 58(6):1027-39; discussion 1027-39, 2006
Matsunaga S et al: Clinical course of patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a minimum 10-year cohort study. J Neurosurg. 100(3 Suppl):245-8, 2004
Shiraishi T et al: Cervical peridural calcification in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Report of two cases. 100(3 Suppl): 284-6, 2004
Kamizono J et al: Occupational recovery after open-door type laminoplasty for patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine. 28(16):1889-92, 2003
Epstein N: Diagnosis and surgical management of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine J. 2(6):436-49, 2002
Epstein NE et al: In vitro characteristics of cultured posterior longitudinal ligament tissue. Spine. 27(1):56-8, 2002
Matsunaga S et al: Pathogenesis of myelopathy in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. J Neurosurg. 96(2 Suppl):168-72, 2002
Matsunaga S et al: Trauma-induced myelopathy in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. J Neurosurg. 97(2 Suppl):172-5, 2002
Epstein NE: Identification of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament extending through the dura on preoperative computed tomographic examinations of the cervical spine. Spine. 26(2):182-6, 2001
Matsunaga S et al: Quality of life in elderly patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine. 26(5):494-8, 2001
Sakou T et al: Recent progress in the study of pathogenesis of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. J Orthop Sci. 5(3):310-5, 2000
Yamauchi T et al: Bone mineral density in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine. J Bone Miner Metab. 17(4):296-300, 1999
Ehara S et al: Paravertebral ligamentous ossification: DISH, OPLL and OLF. Eur J Radiol. 27(3):196-205, 1998
Koga H et al: Genetic mapping of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine. Am J Hum Genet. 62(6):1460-7, 1998
Epstein NE: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in evolution in 12 patients. Spine. 19(6):673-01, 1994
Epstein NE: The surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 43 north americans. Spine. 19(6):664-72, 1994
Matsunaga S et al: The natural course of myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine. Clin Orthop. (305):168-77, 1994
Epstein N: The surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 51 patients. J Spinal Disord. 6(5):432-54; discussion 454-5, 1993
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
Definitions
Ossification within spinal posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
Fluoroscopic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Bernstein DN et al: National trends and complications in the surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 44(22):1550-7, 2019
Ohara Y: Ossification of the ligaments in the cervical spine, including ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and ossification of the ligamentum flavum. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 29(1):63-8, 2018
Fehlings MG et al: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: current state of the art and future directions. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 38(22 Suppl 1):S1-8, 2013
Li H et al: A systematic review of complications in cervical spine surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine J. 11(11):1049-57, 2011
Saetia K et al: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a review. Neurosurg Focus. 30(3):E1, 2011
Shin JH et al: Dorsal versus ventral surgery for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: considerations for approach selection and review of surgical outcomes. Neurosurg Focus. 30(3):E8, 2011
Matsunaga S et al: Radiographic predictors for the development of myelopathy in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a multicenter cohort study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 33(24):2648-50, 2008
Inamasu J et al: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: an update on its biology, epidemiology, and natural history. Neurosurgery. 58(6):1027-39; discussion 1027-39, 2006
Matsunaga S et al: Clinical course of patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a minimum 10-year cohort study. J Neurosurg. 100(3 Suppl):245-8, 2004
Shiraishi T et al: Cervical peridural calcification in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Report of two cases. 100(3 Suppl): 284-6, 2004
Kamizono J et al: Occupational recovery after open-door type laminoplasty for patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine. 28(16):1889-92, 2003
Epstein N: Diagnosis and surgical management of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine J. 2(6):436-49, 2002
Epstein NE et al: In vitro characteristics of cultured posterior longitudinal ligament tissue. Spine. 27(1):56-8, 2002
Matsunaga S et al: Pathogenesis of myelopathy in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. J Neurosurg. 96(2 Suppl):168-72, 2002
Matsunaga S et al: Trauma-induced myelopathy in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. J Neurosurg. 97(2 Suppl):172-5, 2002
Epstein NE: Identification of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament extending through the dura on preoperative computed tomographic examinations of the cervical spine. Spine. 26(2):182-6, 2001
Matsunaga S et al: Quality of life in elderly patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spine. 26(5):494-8, 2001
Sakou T et al: Recent progress in the study of pathogenesis of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. J Orthop Sci. 5(3):310-5, 2000
Yamauchi T et al: Bone mineral density in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine. J Bone Miner Metab. 17(4):296-300, 1999
Ehara S et al: Paravertebral ligamentous ossification: DISH, OPLL and OLF. Eur J Radiol. 27(3):196-205, 1998
Koga H et al: Genetic mapping of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine. Am J Hum Genet. 62(6):1460-7, 1998
Epstein NE: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in evolution in 12 patients. Spine. 19(6):673-01, 1994
Epstein NE: The surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 43 north americans. Spine. 19(6):664-72, 1994
Matsunaga S et al: The natural course of myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine. Clin Orthop. (305):168-77, 1994
Epstein N: The surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 51 patients. J Spinal Disord. 6(5):432-54; discussion 454-5, 1993
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