OSSIFICATION OF THE POSTERIOR LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENT - A REPORT OF 9 CASES IN NON-ORIENTAL PATIENTS

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a progre ssive disorder of the spine which may result in spinal cord compressio n and myelopathy. While prevalent among Japanese, its occurrence in no n-Orientals has been infrequently reported. Nine patients with OPLL ha ve been diagnosed and followed at the Emery Clinic Spine Center over a 5-year period. All of the patients had been misdiagnosed before prese ntation. Five of the nine had undergone a total of eight ineffective o perations. Failure to distinguish OPLL from other more common causes o f myelopathy can result in delayed or inappropriate treatment. Illustr ative cases and radiographic studies are presented.