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posterior longitudinal ligament ossification (OPLL)
LemonDKel
2022. 8. 2. 00:33
Overview
A disease in which the posterior longitudinal ligament running longitudinally in the spine changes into a bone (ossification) narrows the spinal canal through which nerves pass and compresses, causing neurological symptoms such as sensory and motor disorders.Severe symptoms can impair daily life and require assistance. Depending on the area of the ossified spine, it can be categorized as cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, and lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament ossification.It is one of the designated incurable diseases, with an average prevalence of about 3 percent on average.However, ossification does not cause symptoms for all.It often occurs after middle age, especially in men around the age of 50, and it also occurs frequently in people with diabetes and obesity.There is also a genetic trend.cause
The posterior longitudinal ligament thickens to form a bone, and nerve symptoms occur when the spinal cord is compressed.Furthermore, the movement of the spinal column also deteriorates as the ligament important for the movement of the spine becomes hard and the elasticity is eliminated.Ossification of ligaments in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae can cause back and back pain and numbness in the legs.The root cause of ossification has not been identified, but it is said that multiple factors are involved in the overall disease.Specifically, genetic factors, sex hormones, diabetes, obesity, aging, stress on bone parts, disk escape, ossification, and metabolism of calcium and vitamin D are considered to be strong, and many families suffer from the same disease.Some data show that siblings have a 30% chance of developing posterior longitudinal ligament osteosis.symptom
Some of the symptoms are caused by nerve compression and others by motor disorders in the spinal column.In the case of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, pain and numbness are first caused by nerve compression, and as the symptoms progress, the range of pain and numbness is widened, and movement disorders appear in legs and fingers.Severe walking disorders such as wobble legs, impaired urination and defecation can lead to difficulties in daily life, and spinal motor disorders can cause pain in the neck and shoulders and make it difficult to move the neck.Osteosis of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic vertebrae causes symptoms in the trunk and lower body, and often causes weakness and numbness in the lower limbs.Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the lumbar vertebrae causes pain, numbness and weakness in the lower extremities when walking.Not all patients experience worsening symptoms, and about half of them do not change after several years.examination and diagnosis
Osteosis of the posterior longitudinal ligament is suspected by listening to and confirming subjective symptoms through interviews.Since genetic factors are believed to be strong, the disease situation of the family is also understood.It will also check if you are doing any work that can put a strain on your bones locally in your daily life.In order to confirm ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and compression on the nerve, diagnosis is also performed by imaging findings such as X-ray examination, CT examination and MRI examination.Cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification is easy to detect by X-ray examination, but CT examination and MRI examination are more useful because abnormalities in the thoracic vertebrae are difficult to determine.CT is used to determine the size and extent of ossification, and MRI is performed to determine the degree of nerve compression.treatment
As the conservative treatment, the main purpose is to protect the nerve compressed by ossification, and first, fixing with an accessory is performed to keep the affected part at rest.It is also important to avoid the posture of turning your head back and be careful not to get worse due to falls.As a drug therapy, anti-inflammatory painkillers and muscle relaxants may reduce symptoms.Vitamin B is used for numbness.If conservative treatment is not effective, surgical operation is required.In the case of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, there are methods of removing the ossified ligament compressing the nerve and fixing it with bones, or widening the spinal canal while leaving the ossified ligament intact.Generally, the latter method is adopted, and the former method is adopted when ossification is large.In the case of lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, there are many ways to widen the spinal canal.In the case of thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, a method of removing spinal compression by cutting the vertebral arch on the back side is adopted.precautions after prevention/treatment
Even if the symptoms are improved by surgery, ossification may progress a few years later and the symptoms may appear again.Accordingly, it is recommended to have a regular image inspection.Also, it is important to be very careful about falling down in your daily life because nerve damage can progress rapidly with a small amount of force.
A disease in which the posterior longitudinal ligament running longitudinally in the spine changes into a bone (ossification) narrows the spinal canal through which nerves pass and compresses, causing neurological symptoms such as sensory and motor disorders.Severe symptoms can impair daily life and require assistance. Depending on the area of the ossified spine, it can be categorized as cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, and lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament ossification.It is one of the designated incurable diseases, with an average prevalence of about 3 percent on average.However, ossification does not cause symptoms for all.It often occurs after middle age, especially in men around the age of 50, and it also occurs frequently in people with diabetes and obesity.There is also a genetic trend.cause
The posterior longitudinal ligament thickens to form a bone, and nerve symptoms occur when the spinal cord is compressed.Furthermore, the movement of the spinal column also deteriorates as the ligament important for the movement of the spine becomes hard and the elasticity is eliminated.Ossification of ligaments in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae can cause back and back pain and numbness in the legs.The root cause of ossification has not been identified, but it is said that multiple factors are involved in the overall disease.Specifically, genetic factors, sex hormones, diabetes, obesity, aging, stress on bone parts, disk escape, ossification, and metabolism of calcium and vitamin D are considered to be strong, and many families suffer from the same disease.Some data show that siblings have a 30% chance of developing posterior longitudinal ligament osteosis.symptom
Some of the symptoms are caused by nerve compression and others by motor disorders in the spinal column.In the case of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, pain and numbness are first caused by nerve compression, and as the symptoms progress, the range of pain and numbness is widened, and movement disorders appear in legs and fingers.Severe walking disorders such as wobble legs, impaired urination and defecation can lead to difficulties in daily life, and spinal motor disorders can cause pain in the neck and shoulders and make it difficult to move the neck.Osteosis of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic vertebrae causes symptoms in the trunk and lower body, and often causes weakness and numbness in the lower limbs.Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the lumbar vertebrae causes pain, numbness and weakness in the lower extremities when walking.Not all patients experience worsening symptoms, and about half of them do not change after several years.examination and diagnosis
Osteosis of the posterior longitudinal ligament is suspected by listening to and confirming subjective symptoms through interviews.Since genetic factors are believed to be strong, the disease situation of the family is also understood.It will also check if you are doing any work that can put a strain on your bones locally in your daily life.In order to confirm ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and compression on the nerve, diagnosis is also performed by imaging findings such as X-ray examination, CT examination and MRI examination.Cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification is easy to detect by X-ray examination, but CT examination and MRI examination are more useful because abnormalities in the thoracic vertebrae are difficult to determine.CT is used to determine the size and extent of ossification, and MRI is performed to determine the degree of nerve compression.treatment
As the conservative treatment, the main purpose is to protect the nerve compressed by ossification, and first, fixing with an accessory is performed to keep the affected part at rest.It is also important to avoid the posture of turning your head back and be careful not to get worse due to falls.As a drug therapy, anti-inflammatory painkillers and muscle relaxants may reduce symptoms.Vitamin B is used for numbness.If conservative treatment is not effective, surgical operation is required.In the case of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, there are methods of removing the ossified ligament compressing the nerve and fixing it with bones, or widening the spinal canal while leaving the ossified ligament intact.Generally, the latter method is adopted, and the former method is adopted when ossification is large.In the case of lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, there are many ways to widen the spinal canal.In the case of thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament ossification, a method of removing spinal compression by cutting the vertebral arch on the back side is adopted.precautions after prevention/treatment
Even if the symptoms are improved by surgery, ossification may progress a few years later and the symptoms may appear again.Accordingly, it is recommended to have a regular image inspection.Also, it is important to be very careful about falling down in your daily life because nerve damage can progress rapidly with a small amount of force.