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Increased Bone Mineral Density and Decreased Prevalence of Osteoporosis in Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Case–Control Study

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Abstract

Bone and mineral metabolism has been reported to affect the development of the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). The aim of this study was to compare bone mineral densities (BMD) and rate of osteoporosis between cervical OPLL and a matched control group. We also investigated the correlation of BMD with the number of cervical spine levels involved with OPLL. From 1999 to August 2011, 178 patients with cervical OPLL underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at our institute. The control group was age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)–matched with the OPLL group on a 1:1 basis. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine (L1–L4), femoral neck, and total femur using DXA. Age, sex, and BMI were the same in the OPLL and control groups. BMDs of the OPLL and control groups were significantly different in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.009, respectively). Rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis were lower in the OPLL than in the control group according to lumbar spine and femoral neck DXA (p = 0.01, 0.03, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between lumbar spine BMD and the number of cervical spine levels involved with OPLL (p = 0.004).

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean government (2012-0000996). Statistical consultation was provided by the Seoul National University Medical Research Collaborating Center (2011-0149).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea

    Seil Sohn & Chun Kee Chung

  2. Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, South Korea

    Seil Sohn & Chun Kee Chung

  3. Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

    Seil Sohn & Chun Kee Chung

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  1. Seil Sohn
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  2. Chun Kee Chung
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Correspondence to Chun Kee Chung.

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The authors have stated that they have no conflict of interest.

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Sohn, S., Chung, C.K. Increased Bone Mineral Density and Decreased Prevalence of Osteoporosis in Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Case–Control Study. Calcif Tissue Int 92, 28–34 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-012-9662-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-012-9662-x

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