Wang XD, Su XJ, Chen YK, Wang WG. Regression of intervertebral disc calcification combined with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9(24): 7285-7291 [PMID: 34540990 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i24.7285]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Wen-Gang Wang, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China. wangwengangzdyfy@126.com
Research Domain of This Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Cases. Aug 26, 2021; 9(24): 7285-7291 Published online Aug 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i24.7285
Regression of intervertebral disc calcification combined with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A case report
Xu-Dong Wang, Xian-Jun Su, Yao-Kun Chen, Wen-Gang Wang
Xu-Dong Wang, Xian-Jun Su, Yao-Kun Chen, Wen-Gang Wang, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Wang XD and Su XJ contributed equally to this work; Wang XD and Su XJ contributed to the conception, design, and drafting of the work; Su XJ and Chen YK conducted the data acquisition and analysis; Wang XD and Wang WG revised the study critically for important intellectual content; Wang XD and Wang WG approved the version to be published; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: None of the authors have potential conflicts of interest.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Wen-Gang Wang, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China. wangwengangzdyfy@126.com
Received: May 12, 2021 Peer-review started: May 12, 2021 First decision: June 15, 2021 Revised: June 16, 2021 Accepted: July 6, 2021 Article in press: July 6, 2021 Published online: August 26, 2021 Processing time: 103 Days and 21.8 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) combined with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in cervical discs is rarely reported. This case study presents a rare case of IDC combined with OPLL in the C2-C3 segment.
CASE SUMMARY
Here, we present a case of a 6-year-old Asian boy with severe neck pain and stiffness. Physical examination showed no neurological or other abnormalities. Digital radiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a calcified intervertebral disc and OPLL at the C2-C3 vertebrae. The spinal canal compromise at C2-C3 was approximately 50% on magnetic resonance imaging. The final diagnosis was IDC combined with OPLL. We applied a neck brace for the patient to protect the neck. The patient's neck pain and stiffness recovered significantly within approximately 3 wk. At the 3 mo follow-up, the follow-up CT showed resolution of the ossified intervertebral disc herniation, and a small amount of calcification and slight OPLL remained at the involved segment.
CONCLUSION
IDC combined with OPLL is a relatively rare condition in children. However, the majority of patients could have a favorable outcome, and the ossified mass in the canal would be spontaneously resolved with conservative therapy.
Core Tip: Intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is rare. At present, there is no consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. If the disease is not recognized, it is easily misdiagnosed and leads to unnecessary treatment. In addition, there are few reports of upper cervical IDC with OPLL, which may limit doctors’ awareness of the disease. This case study presents a rare case of IDC combined with OPLL in the C2-C3 segment to help diagnose and treat the disease.
