[A hist-morphometrical study of undecalcified sections of bone obtained in patients with cervical disorders]

Histomorphometrical parameters were used to investigate bone metabolism in patients with symptomatic cervical disorders, especially those patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine. There were 19 patients in this study. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence of OPLL. Six patients had OPLL (OPLL group), 13 patients did not (non-OPLL group). All patients received pre-operative labelling with tetracycline. There was a positive correlation between vertebral body and iliac bone in the parameters of trabecular osteoid specific volume, relative osteoid volume and relative formation surface. The vertebra/ilium ratio of the mineral apposition rate, which suggests bone formation in vertebral body relatively, was higher in OPLL group significantly. The present study concludes that OPLL can be considered a condition of hyperostosis though, bone formation ability in the vertebral body of OPLL is higher than in the ilium.