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OPLL - Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Cervical Myelopathy

A 58-year-old Japanese businessman presents with progressive difficulty walking, hand clumsiness, and neck stiffness over 12 months. Examination reveals hyperreflexia in all four limbs, bilateral Hoffman's sign, and a broad-based gait. MRI and CT demonstrate multilevel ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament from C3-C6 with cord compression. Regarding ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL):

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

OPLL is characterized by ectopic bone formation within the posterior longitudinal ligament; it has a...

B

The Hirabayashi classification divides OPLL into four types: continuous (extending across multiple v...

C

OPLL only occurs in the cervical spine; it is always symptomatic when present; CT scan has no advant...

D

Clinical presentation includes myelopathic symptoms (gait disturbance, hand clumsiness, hyperreflexi...

E

Associated conditions include diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), diabetes mellitus, an...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option