OSSIFICATION OF POSTERIOR LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENT OF SPINE- A RECOGNIZABLE CAUSE OF MYELOPATHY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL) is not so rare disorder in spine. We reviewed retrospectively three cases of cervical stenosis complicated by Myelopathy in two men and one woman. All patients presented with signs of cervical myelo-radiculopathy of varying degrees. Diagnosis was made clinically & confirmed radiologically with plain radiographs, MRI scan, and CT 3D reconstruction. Surgical decompression was done, two patients underwent laminoplasty and one patient was treated by laminectomy. They all showed favourable outcome following surgical decompression.

Key words: Ossification posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), cervical spine, Myelopathy