Cervical spine stenosis due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in Italian patients: surgical treatment and outcome

How Does Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Progress in Conservatively Managed Patients?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to elucidate the progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in conservatively managed patients and determine its risk factors SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Although several studies have demonstrated how OPLL progresses after laminoplasty or fusion, its progression in conservatively managed patients remains unclear.

METHODS

The vertical length of the ossified mass and its thickness at each segment were evaluated on sagittal computed tomography images. Patients with vertical growth >2 mm were included in the vertical progression group. Segments with a thickness progression >1 mm were classified as thickness progressed segments, and patients who had at least one progressed segment were included in the thickness progression group. Based on the characteristics at each disc level, the ossified mass at each segment was classified into four types: type 1, no disc space involvement; type 2, involving the disc space, but not crossing; type 3, crossing the disc space, but not fused; and type 4, completely fused.

RESULTS

The progression of ossified mass was observed in younger patients (P < 0.01) and in C2-C3 involvement (P < 0.01) cases. Moreover, progression in both directions was observed more frequently in the mixed-type OPLL (P < 0.01). Progression occurred most often in type 3 segments (72.0%, P < 0.01). In type 3 segments, thickness progression was found more frequently in segments with segmental range of motion (ROM) ≥5° (55.6% vs. 27.8%, P = 0.04). The proportion of segments whose initial thickness was >5 mm was significantly higher among progressed segments (60.0% vs. 35.2%, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Young age, C2-C3 involvement, and mixed-type OPLL are risk factors for OPLL progression. Segments with morphology of crossing the segment, but without fusion (type 3), segmental ROM ≥5°, and initial thickness >5 mm need special attention.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Conservative management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. A review

OBJECT

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can result in significant myelopathy. Surgical treatment for OPLL has been extensively documented in the literature, but less data exist on conservative management of this condition.

METHODS

The authors conducted a systematic review to identify all reported cases of OPLL that were conservatively managed without surgery.

RESULTS

The review yielded 11 published studies reporting on a total of 480 patients (range per study 1-359 patients) over a mean follow-up period of 14.6 years (range 0.4-26 years). Of these 480 patients, 348 (72.5%) were without myelopathy on initial presentation, whereas 76 patients (15.8%) had signs of myelopathy; in 56 cases (15.8%), the presence of myelopathy was not specified. The mean aggregate Japanese Orthopaedic Association score on presentation for 111 patients was 15.3. Data available for 330 patients who initially presented without myelopathy showed progression to myelopathy in 55 (16.7%), whereas the other 275 (83.3%) remained progression free. In the 76 patients presenting with myelopathy, 37 (48.7%) showed clinical progression, whereas 39 (51.5%) remained clinically unchanged or improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who present without myelopathy have a high chance of remaining progression free. Those who already have signs of myelopathy at presentation may benefit from surgery due to a higher rate of progression over continued follow-up.

Symptomatic disc herniation and serum lipid levels

Insufficient blood supply to the intervertebral disc (IVD) has been proposed to play a role as causative factor in IVD degeneration. There is an association between IVD diseases and increased risk of dying of ischaemic heart disease. Obesity and tobacco are potential risk factors for degenerative IVD disease. High blood cholesterol and triglycerides serum levels are risk factors for atherosclerosis, and could be responsible for a decreased in the blood supply to the already poor vascularized IVD. We performed a frequency-matched case-control study to determine the serum levels of patients with symptomatic herniated lumbar disc. We examined the fasting serum lipid levels in 384 subjects who were operated at our institution. Group 1 included 169 consecutive patients (115 men and 54 women; mean age: 59.1 years, range 29-85) who underwent surgery for symptomatic disc herniation. Group 2 (control group) included 169 patients (115 men and 54 women; mean age: 61 years, range 26-86) who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy for a meniscal tear in the same period. These patients were frequency-matched by age (within 3 years) and gender with patients of Group 1. Sera were extracted from blood samples and the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were determined. When comparing the two groups, patients with symptomatic herniated lumbar disc showed statistically significant higher triglyceride concentration (P = 0.02) and total cholesterol concentration (P = 0.01). Serum lipid levels may be a risk factor for IVD pathology. An enhanced understanding of these factors holds the promise of new approaches to the prevention and management of IVD pathology.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a review

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is most commonly found in men, the elderly, and Asian patients. There are many diseases associated with OPLL, such as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other spondyloarthropathies. Several factors have been reported to be associated with OPLL formation and progression, including genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle factors. However, the pathogenesis of OPLL is still unclear. Most symptomatic patients with OPLL present with neurological deficits such as myelopathy, radiculopathy, and/or bowel and bladder symptoms. There are some reports of asymptomatic OPLL. Both static and dynamic factors are related to the development of myelopathy. Plain radiography, CT, and MR imaging are used to evaluate OPLL extension and the area of spinal cord compression. Management of OPLL continues to be controversial. Each surgical technique has some advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of operation should be made case by case, depending on the patient's condition, level of pathology, type of OPLL, and the surgeon's experience. In this paper, the authors attempt to review the incidence, pathology, pathogenesis, natural history, clinical presentation, classification, radiological evaluation, and management of OPLL.

Ossificação do ligamento longitudional posterior: relato de caso

Ossificação do ligamento longitudinal posterior (OLLP) cervical é patologia rara em nosso meio que pode ser tratada por abordagem anterior ou posterior da coluna. Relatamos o caso de um homem japonês de 42 anos com paraparesia progressiva e TC e RM comprovando o diagnóstico de OLLLP, submetido a corpectomia anterior com artrodese. A fisiopatologia desta entesopatia, prevalência racial, quadro clínico, características radiológicas e opções do procedimento cirúrgico são revistos.