Invited. Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligaments: Evaluation with MRI

Abstract

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament is a special subcategory of degenerative disease responsible for compression of the spinal cord. On MR images, T2-weighted sequences are the most effective to evaluate both spinal cord compression due to the ossification and abnormal signal intensity of the cord. Although ossification of the ligaments is well demonstrated on CT and plain radiographs, MRI noninvasively provides useful information about the degree and extent of spinal cord compression, as well as the character of the ossification.

Chalkstick fracture: A catastrophic injury

“…[ 3 4 ] The involvement of cervical spine in ankylosing spondylitis and other related pathology (OPLL, DISH, and OLF) is very high (75%) as compare to thoracic (15%) and lumbar (10%). [ 3 5 6 ] All of these factors are responsible for heavy calcification with ossification of the ligamentous structures of the cervical spine and which can result as “chalk stick” fractures after minor or major injuries. Chalkstick fractures are very unstable type and very devastating in nature because of the hard and stiff broken ligamentous structures around it.…”