A Preliminary Attempt of Nonintervention in the Treatment of Patients with Intervertebral Disc Calcification Combined with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Regression of intervertebral disc calcification combined with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A case report

“…However, child OPLL is different from adult OPLL. Although the imaging manifestations are very serious, the spinal canal compromise at C2-C3 could be approximately 50% but the clinical symptoms are not serious, and few children have neurological defects[ 2 , 4 ].…”

“…Generally, imaging findings are the main basis for diagnosis[ 15 ]. However, for this disease, there exists a possibility that the imaging performance and clinical symptoms are inconsistent[ 1 , 2 , 5 - 7 , 12 ].…”

“…If the calcification protrudes into the spinal canal, traction is contraindicated given the possibility of aggravating the spinal cord compression. For patients with no or mild neurological dysfunction, even without intervention, recovery is still possible within several weeks[ 2 ]. Patients receiving conservative treatment should focus on avoiding injury and must be closely followed up and return to the hospital immediately in case of aggravation of nerve compression symptoms.…”

“…Finally, the clinical symptoms of all patients disappeared after conservative treatment. However, according to imaging evaluation, 4 patients recovered completely[ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ], 1 patient had persistent mild OPLL[ 3 ], 2 patients had persistent mild IDC[ 4 , 5 ], and 1 patient had progressive IDC 1 . All reported patients had neck pain or back pain to varying degrees due to the IDC and OPLL extending into the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord or nerve root, and all went to the hospital with or without neurological defects.…”

Pediatric idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification of the cervical spine

“…This highlights the benign nature of this condition. Dushnicky et al [ 1 ] and Zhu et al [ 3 ] also reported their non-interventional treatment and all the patients recovered fully. We believe that, even with any clinical intervention the calcified lesion may aggravate and the recurrence of symptoms may occur as the natural condition progresses until inflammation triggers the point of regression of the calcified lesions.…”