Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cervical myelopathy due to calcification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane associated with generalized articular deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate: a case report and review of the literature

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Miyasaka K, Kaneda K, Sato S, Iwasaki Y, Abe S, Takei H, Tsuru M, Tashiro K, Abe H, Fujioka Y. Myelopathy due to ossification or calcification of the ligamentum flavum: radiologic and histologic evaluations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1983;4(3):629–32.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Imai S, Hukuda S. Cervical radiculomyelopathy due to deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the ligamentum flavum: historical and histological evaluation of attendant inflammation. J Spinal Disord. 1994;7(6):513–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ellman MH, Vazquez T, Ferguson L, Mandel N. Calcium pyrophosphate deposition in ligamentum flavum. Arthritis Rheum. 1978;21(5):611–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kamakura K, Nanko S, Furukawa T, Mannen T, Toyokura Y. Cervical radiculomyelopathy due to calcified ligamenta flava. Ann Neurol. 1979;5(2):193–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Baba H, Maezawa Y, Kawahara N, Tomita K, Furusawa N, Imura S. Calcium crystal deposition in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1993;18(15):2174–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Inoue H, Seichi A, Kimura A, Endo T, Hoshino Y. Multiple-level ossification of the ligamentum flavum in the cervical spine combined with calcification of the cervical ligamentum flavum and posterior atlanto-axial membrane. Eur Spine J. 2013;22(Suppl 3):S416–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nakajima K, Miyaoka M, Sumie H, Nakazato T, Ishii S. Cervical radiculomyelopathy due to calcification of the ligamenta flava. Surg Neurol. 1984;21(5):479–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Okada G, Hosoi S, Kato K, Ohta K, Tachi Y, Sonoda J, Yada H. Case report 779. Carbonate apatite calcification of ligamentum flavum. Skeletal Radiol. 1993;22(3):211–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mwaka ES, Yayama T, Uchida K, Kobayashi S, Kokubo Y, Nakajima H, Sato R, Orwotho NT, Baba H. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009;27(3):430–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ramsey RH. The anatomy of the ligamenta flava. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1966;44:129–40.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Iwasaki Y, Akino M, Abe H, Tsuru M, Tashiro K, Miyasaka K, Kaneda K, Isu T, Ito T. Calcification of the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine. Report of four cases. J Neurosurg. 1983;59(3):531–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ogata M, Ishikawa K, Ohira T. Cervical myelopathy in pseudogout. Case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984;66(8):1301–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cabre P, Pascal-Moussellard H, Kaidomar S, Bucki B, Bardin T, Smadja D, Arfi S. Six cases of cervical ligamentum flavum calcification in Blacks in the French West Indies. Joint Bone Spine. 2001;68(2):158–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nanko S, Takagi A, Mannen T, et al. A case of radiculo-myelopathy due to calcification of the ligamentum flavum. Shinkeinaika. 1976;4(3):205–10 (in Japanese).

  15. Akino M, Abe H, Iwasaki Y, Hokin K, Tsuru M, Koiwa M, Saito H. Case of cervical myelopathy due to calcified mass in the cervical yellow ligament. No Shinkei Geka. 1983;11(2):173–8.

  16. Jyotoku Z, Harada H. A case of cervical myelopathy due to calcification of the ligamentum flavum. Rinsho Seikei Geka. 1980;15(7):708–12 (in Japanese).

  17. Kawano N, Yoshida S, Ohwada T, Yada K, Sasaki K, Matsuno T. Cervical radiculomyelopathy caused by deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the ligamenta flava. Case report. J Neurosurg. 1980;52(2):279–83.

  18. Kida H, Tabata S. Calcified mass in the cervical ligament flava as a cause of cervical myelopathy. Rinsho Seikei Geka. 1981;16(3):310–3 (in Japanese).

  19. Nagashima C, Takahama M, Shibata K, et al. CPPD crystal deposition in the cervical ligament flava producing cervical myelopathy with special reference to the scanning electron microscopic and X-ray microanalytic studies. J Saitama Med School. 1981;8(1,2):33–45 (in Japanese).

  20. Fujiwara M, Bitoh S, Hasegawa H, Nakata M, Hata H. A case of nodular calcification of the ligamentum flavum with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine. No Shinkei Geka. 1982;10(7):769–74 (in Japanese).

  21. Hirano H, Nakanishi K, Mimatsu K, et al. Myelopathy due to calcium deposition in the cervical ligament flava. Report of two cases. Cent Jpn J Orthop Traumat. 1985;28(1):447–9 (in Japanese).

  22. Berghausen EJ, Balogh K, Landis WJ, Lee DD, Wright AM. Cervical myelopathy attributable to pseudogout. Case report with radiologic, histologic, and crystallographic observations. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987;214:217–21.

  23. Kubota T, Kawano H, Yamashima T, Ikeda K, Hayashi M, Yamamoto S. Ultrastructural study of calcification process in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine. Spine. 1987;12(4):317–23.

  24. Kawano N, Matsuno T, Miyazawa S, Iida H, Yada K, Kobayashi N, Iwasaki Y. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease in the cervical ligamentum flavum. J Neurosurg. 1988;68(4):613–20.

  25. Hankey GJ, Khangure MS. Cervical myelopathy due to calcification of the ligamentum flavum. Aust N Z J Surg. 1988;58(3):247–9.

  26. Gomez H, Chou SM. Myeloradiculopathy secondary to pseudogout in the cervical ligamentum flavum: case report. Neurosurgery. 1989;25(2):298–302

  27. Sato K, Hayashi M, Kubota T, Kawano H, Handa Y, Kabuto M. Symptomatic calcification and ossification of the cervical ligamentum flavum: clinical, radiological and pathological features. Br J Neurosurg. 1989;3(5):597–602.

  28. Ohnishi H, Kurihara A, Uratsuji M, et al. Three cases of cervical myelopathy due to calcification of yellow ligament. Seikeigeka. 1992;43(5):655–60 (in Japanese).

  29. Takayama S, Kuribayashi K, Miyamoto Y, Nakasu Y, Handa J. Ossification and calcification of the cervical ligamentum flavum—case reports. No To Shinkei. 1993;45(9):859–63 (in Japanese).

  30. Haraguchi K, Yamaki T, Kurokawa Y, Ohtaki M, Ibayashi Y, Uede T, Tanabe S, Hashi K. A case of calcification of the cervical ligamentum flavum. No Shinkei Geka. 1996;24(1):69–73 (in Japanese).

  31. Higashi S, Hamada J, Ono W, Tamai K, Saotome K. Calcification of cervical ligamentum flavum—analysis of calcium compounds and histopathological findings. Ryumachi. 1997;37(6):794–803 (in Japanese).

  32. Yamagami T, Kawano N, Nakano H. Calcification of the cervical ligamentum flavum—case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2000;40(4):234–8.

  33. Ugarriza LF, Cabezudo JM, Porras LF, Rodríguez-Sánchez JA. Cord compression secondary to cervical disc herniation associated with calcification of the ligamentum flavum: case report. Neurosurgery. 2001;48(3):673–6.

  34. Guesmi H, Lamouchi T, Mlaiki A, Ksira I, Tlili K, Krifa H. Calcification of the cervical ligamentum flavum. Case report and review of the literature. Neurochirurgie. 2005;51(6):591–4 (in French).

  35. Muthukumar N, Karuppaswamy U. Tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease of the ligamentum flavum. Neurosurgery. 2003;53(1):103–8

  36. Yabuki S, Kikuchi S. Endoscopic surgery for cervical myelopathy due to calcification of the ligamentum flavum. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2008;21(7):518–23.

  37. Nagashima C, Takahama M, Shibata T, Nakamura H, Okada K, Morita H, Kubo H. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposits in the cervical ligamenta flava causing myeloradiculopathy. J Neurosurg. 1984;60(1):69–80

  38. Koyama S, Nishimura T, Kubokura T, Sannoh N, Tsubone K. A case of myelopathy caused by calcified nodules of cervical ligamentum flavum. No Shinkei Geka. 1988;16(10):1179–85 (in Japanese).

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Health and Labour Science Research Grants. No other financial associations were relevant or may be seen as relevant to the submitted manuscript. The authors thank Dr. Mitsuaki Ishida, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, for histopathological assistance.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa-cho, Seta, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan

    Kanji Mori, Shinji Imai, Kazuya Nishizawa & Yoshitaka Matsusue

Authors
  1. Kanji Mori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shinji Imai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kazuya Nishizawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yoshitaka Matsusue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kanji Mori.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mori, K., Imai, S., Nishizawa, K. et al. Cervical myelopathy due to calcification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane associated with generalized articular deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate: a case report and review of the literature. J Orthop Sci 20, 1136–1141 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-014-0631-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-014-0631-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation