1
|
Tzeng SW, Kuo YH, Kuo CH, Chang HK, Ko CC, Tu TH, Chang CC, Cheng H, Huang WC, Wu JC. Nature or nurture: a latent ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament after atlantoaxial fusion. Illustrative case. JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY. CASE LESSONS 2022; 4:CASE22241. [PMID: 36088554 PMCID: PMC9706324 DOI: 10.3171/case22241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The natural history of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) remains poorly understood and multiple etiologies have been reported. However, most have focused on the characteristics of the patient rather than alternation of mechanical stress after spinal fusion. OBSERVATIONS This report describes, for the first time, a de novo OPLL found at the subaxial cervical spine 7 years after an atlantoaxial fusion surgery. A 57-year-old female initially required atlantoaxial arthrodesis for os odontoideum and stenosis that caused myelopathy. The posterior fusion surgery went smoothly without complications and the patient had good recovery of neurological functions. There was no associated instability, trauma, or reoperations during the follow-up. Seven years later, the patient presented with slight neck pain and a newly developed OPLL at C3-4 caudal to the C1-2 fusion construct. LESSONS Conflicting with the conventional concept that OPLL is common in elderly men with genetic or hormonal factors, or associated spondyloarthropathies, OPLL could develop in women even after solid C1-2 fusion. The adjacent subaxial cervical spine is not free of risks for subsequent development of OPLL and cervical spondylotic myelopathy. This case illustration extends the scope of etiologies of OPLL within the present literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Wei Tzeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Kuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Hung Kuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Kan Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; and
| | - Chin-Chu Ko
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsi Tu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chang Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Henrich Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Cheng Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Ching Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|