Myelopathy associated with instability consequent to resection of ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament in DISH.

PURPOSE

The presence of prominent OALL (ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament) in the anterior cervical spine has been implicated as a cause of dysphagia. Surgical resection of the OALL is considered effective for the management of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)-related dysphagia. Although many reports have been published on DISH-related dysphagia, no cases of postoperative cervical instability have been reported thus far. We present a case in which the patient developed myelopathy associated with instability consequent to resection of OALL in DISH.

METHODS

A 62-year-old man presented with progressive dysphagia that persisted for a year. The patient's symptoms were successfully resolved by resection of OALL. Five years after the surgery, the dysphagia resurfaced and was found to be caused by the regrowth of the OALL. A repeat surgery was performed, and the dysphagia disappeared. Eleven months after the second surgery, he visited the hospital with progressive quadriparesis and pain in the cervical region.

RESULTS

Nine-month follow-up radiologic study revealed cervical instability at the level of C5-6 resulting in myelopathy. The patient underwent decompressive laminectomy and posterior fusion surgery.

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection of DISH-related dysphagia typically yields excellent outcomes, but our experience in this case highlights the possibility of OALL regrowth and subsequent cervical instability after resection of OALL.