부산대학교 도서관

In order to clarify the low frequency of fractures in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), the incidence of the fractures in women whit OPLL of the cervical spine was compared with that in women without OPLL.69 women with OPLL and 94 women without OPLL (control) were used for the study. The ages of the patient with OPLL ranged from 52 to 86 years old and averaged 70.1 years old, whie the ages of the women without OPLL ranged from 60 to 75 years old and averaged 68 years old. For these women, we surveyed the past history of the fractures of spine, hip or distal forearm. In some of these women, bone mineral density (BMD) were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).In the OPLL group, only 8 patients (11.6%) had fractures wheras in the ccontrol group, 23 women (24.5%) had fractures. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between these two groups. BMD of the lumbar spine in the OPLL group was higher than that of the control group.In conclusion, there was a tendency for a low frequency of fractures in OPLL patients.