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Cervical intervertebral disc calcification combined with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in an-11-year old girl: case report and review of literature

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Abstract

Summary

To present the clinical feature, radiographic characteristic, treatment and prognosis of an 11 years old girl with cervical intervertebral disc calcification combined with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL).

Background

Calcification is the degeneration of intervertebral disc, mostly occurs in the cervical segment. The pediatric cervical intervertebral disc calcification associated with OPLL is very rare. The etiology and treatment guidelines of this complex are poorly known.

Method

An 11 years old girl experienced neck pain for 3 months,aggravated for half a month. Neurological examination revealed the limitation of cervical spine motion and numbness of the upper left extremity. The spine radiograph, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of cervical intervertebral disc calcification accompanied with OPLL. Conservative intervention was performed, followed up with an observation for 6 months.

Result

On admission, the spine radiograph and computed tomography found the calcified intervertebral disc of C5/6 and ossified posterior longitudinal ligament at C5/6,C6 level, leading to spinal canal stenosis and spine cord compression. After a two-week in-hospital conservative treatment, the patient’s neurologic symptoms were relieved. Two months later, the computed tomography confirmed the calcification of C5/6 intervertebral disc and ossified mass decreased significantly, spinal stenosis subsided. Six months later, the patient felt no discomfort, the computed tomography showed the ossified mass completely disappeared, only a small calcification remained at C5/6 intervertebral disc.

Conclusion

Intervertebral disc calcification associated with OPLL is extremely rare in children. In this case, OPLL is a temporary condition highly related to the disease process of Intervertebral disc calcification. The patient has a satisfactory recovery after non-surgical intervention. Conservative treatment is a prospective choice.

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Compliance with ethical standards

This research was approved by the ethics committee of Central South University.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Spine Surgery, The 2nd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China

    Guoqiang Wang, Yijun Kang, Fei Chen & Bing Wang

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  1. Guoqiang Wang
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  2. Yijun Kang
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  3. Fei Chen
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  4. Bing Wang
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Correspondence to Bing Wang.

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Wang, G., Kang, Y., Chen, F. et al. Cervical intervertebral disc calcification combined with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in an-11-year old girl: case report and review of literature. Childs Nerv Syst 32, 381–386 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2840-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2840-1

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