Histological Study of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Spine

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The pathogenesis of OPLL is not well understood. We have been studying its morphological and radiographical features.We carried out histological investigations on 8 surgical materials and 1 autopsy case. They all were prepared for study with hematoxyline eosine, stain, and 2 of them with double tetracycline bone labeling were prepared with undecalcified ground section with Villanueva bone stain.Degenerative change of the ligament, increasing numbers of vessels and appearance of cartilage cells could be seen at upper, lower and vertebral or disc side of all types of OPLL, especially in the continuous type.Undecalcified section showed that osteoid could be seen much at the edge of OPLL except canal side. On fluoromicroscopic findings, tetracycline bone labels could be seen much at the same side where osteoid existed, but especially at disc lebel.Bone formation must be accelerated at the edge of OPLL.