Familial ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine: case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the spine is most common in the Japanese population and in the cervical spine. We present a case of OPLL of the lower thoracic spine in two Caucasian siblings. CASE DESCRIPTION A 58-year-old female presented with lower extremity dysesthesia and urinary hesitancy. Family history was significant for a brother who had OPLL of the lower thoracic spine removed surgically. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan of the thoracic spine demonstrated OPLL at T10–11 causing cord compression and abnormally high T2 signal in the cord. The patient underwent posterior decompression with improvement of her symptoms. CONCLUSION A genetic predisposition to develop OPLL has been suggested by previous linkage and biochemical studies. While OPLL is an increasingly recognized diagnosis in North America, this is the first reported case of familial thoracic OPLL in Caucasian siblings.