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Is ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament an enthesopathy?

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with enthesis, the site where the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) attaches to the vertebral body, by multi-detector CT reconstruction images. Twenty-nine patients with OPLL were studied. According to the plaques’ continuity to the vertebral body, OPLL plaques were classified into two categories: “free” and “contiguous”. A “broken sign” was defined as a crack between two plaques. The sites where each “contiguous” plaque attached to the vertebral body were then analysed. There were 78 ossified plaques in total, and six were “free”. There were eight cases with a “broken sign”, including six “free” ones. The site where all 72 “contiguous” plaques attached to the vertebral body included the zone where the PLL enthesis was situated, while other zones were included in only part of the plaques. Our conclusion was that there might be no real “free type” ossified plaques, and OPLL could start from enthesis, which indicated OPLL could be a kind of enthesopathy.

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Disclosure

None of authors has a financial or personal relationship with another person or organization that could inappropriately influence (bias) her or his work. This work was prepared without sponsorship from any funding agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 415# Fengyang Road, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China

    Jian Chen, Dianwen Song, Xinwei Wang, Xiaolong Shen, Yang Li & Wen Yuan

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  1. Jian Chen
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  2. Dianwen Song
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  3. Xinwei Wang
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  4. Xiaolong Shen
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  5. Yang Li
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  6. Wen Yuan
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Correspondence to Wen Yuan.

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Chen, J., Song, D., Wang, X. et al. Is ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament an enthesopathy?. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 35, 1511–1516 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1163-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1163-9

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