抄録
A 43-year-old male was suffering from low back pain and numbness of bilateral feet for several months. After lifting a heavy load, low back pain worsened and difficulty in walking appeared. Motor weakness and sensory disturbance in both legs, and difficulty in urination were seen. Computed tomography showed calcification not only in the disc space between the 11th and 12th thoracic spine but also in the anterior aspect of the spinal canal. MRI revealed extreme spinal cord compression by the anterior mass. Operation was performed by anterior approach and a semi-total corpectomy of the 12th thoracic spine was performed. Brown fluid with small calcareous grain was flushed out after incision of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Once compressed dura bulged gradually after resection of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spinal fusion from the 11th thoracic to the first lumbar spine was done with a hydroxyapatite block, rib grafts, and Kaneda SR system. Analysis of the fluid revealed constituent elements to be calcium phosphate (27%) and calcium carbonate (22%). The pathological specimen showed degenerated and calcified ligament. Four months after surgery, back pain and neurological deficit were improved.
