抄録
We investigated calcification of the peripheral joints and the transverse ligament of the atlas (TLA) in five patients with calcification of the ligamentum flavum (CLF) who underwent cervical decompressive surgery. We also investigated calcification of the TLA and the cervical ligamentum flavum in patients who had calcification in the peripheral joints and also a control group without such calcification. The control group was matched to the peripheral calcification group by age and sex. Calcification of the peripheral joints and the TLA was seen in all five of the patients who underwent surgery. Calcification of the TLA was present in 71 (79%) of the 90 patients in the peripheral calcification group and in none (0%) of the 90 patients in the control group. Calcification of the cervical ligamentum flavum was present in 31 (34%) of the 90 patients with peripheral calcification and in none (0%) of the 90 control. This study demonstrated a relationship between calcification of the peripheral joints, CLF, and calcification of the TLA. Some authors have performed decompressive laminectomy or laminoplasty only at the affected levels. However, we performed cervical laminoplasty from C3 to C7 to prevent compression of the spinal cord by de novo calcification at the unaffected levels.
