A RARE NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATION DUE TO OSSIFICATION OF THE POSTERIORLONGITUDINAL LIGAMENT OF THE THORACIC SPINE AND ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS - CASE-REPORT

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) may be asso ciated with certain rheumatic conditions including ankylosing spondyli tis (AS), diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) or spondylos is, More than 95% of all OPLL are localized at the cervical spine. Her ein, we report a case of OPLL at the thoracic spine in an HLA-B-27-pos itive female patient with ankylosing spondylitis. The patient was pres ented to us with spastic paraparesis. The imaging studies included pla in roentgenograms, tomograms, myelo-CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A continuous rod-like ossification along the posterior aspects of the fourth to sixth thoracic vertebral 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 mi ld left thigh pain were noted, However, the patient had resumed a full daily schedule and could walk freely without any support.