Calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament

The anterior longitudinal ligament is the ligament in front of the human spine and is also the longest ligament in the human body. Ligaments, as the name suggests, are very resilient. But if the ligament calcifies, it means that the ligament loses its original function and becomes stiff. Anterior longitudinal ligament calcification is a type of ligament calcification. Different patients present with different symptoms. So, what is anterior longitudinal ligament calcification?

1. Anterior longitudinal ligament

To understand what anterior longitudinal ligament calcification is, first let us understand what the anterior longitudinal ligament is. The anterior longitudinal ligament is the longest ligament in the human body and is located in front of the human spine. It starts from the occipital pharyngeal tubercle at the anterior edge of the foramen magnum and extends to the front of the first or second sacral vertebra, but does not enter the vertebral body. The anterior longitudinal ligament appears to be a long and wide fibrous band, which is very strong. Its fiber bundles are connected to the front edge of the vertebral body and the intervertebral disc, and have the function of limiting hyperextension of the spine. In tests on corpses, it did not break under a pressure of 600 to 700 pounds. Its function is to limit hyperextension of the spine. Calcification:

The tissues of an organism become hard due to the deposition of calcium salts. For example, children's bones become adult bones through calcification, and tuberculosis lesions heal through calcification.

Pathologically, it refers to the deposition of calcium salts in local tissues, which is common in the early stages of bone growth and also seen in certain pathological conditions (such as calcification in caseous necrosis lesions of tuberculosis).

Calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament

There are many types of this ligament calcification, and different types of patients may have different manifestations. Therefore, it is very important to understand the clinical manifestations and causes of ligament calcification. Only in this way can effective measures be taken for treatment. Clinically, calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine is far more common than ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral segment. On the lateral X-ray films of the cervical spine of people over the age of 50, about 80% can show this feature, of which about half occurs in the lumbar spine and the lowest incidence occurs in the thoracic vertebrae.

Moreover, the causes of disease may vary greatly among different types of patients. Among them, except for idiopathic anterior longitudinal ligament calcification, the cause of which is unknown, the vast majority of other cases are caused by degenerative changes in the intervertebral joints. In addition, excessive movement or trauma of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae are secondary factors. As the degeneration of the vertebrae begins with dehydration and loosening, the anterior longitudinal ligament gradually becomes loose, and ligament-subperiosteal hemorrhage and anterior displacement of the nucleus pulposus gradually occur. While the bone spur in front of the vertebrae is formed, the local ligament also calcifies and gradually calcifies. This pathological process often lasts for many years and eventually causes a decrease in vertebral mobility, or even complete calcification and fusion of the vertebrae. This phenomenon can also be regarded as a form of self-defense protective response of the human body to slow down the continued development of the pathological process of the diseased vertebrae.

Usually, in the early stages, patients may experience neck discomfort, inflexibility, and local pain. Those with huge bone spurs at the front edge of the vertebra may experience swallowing difficulties and a foreign body sensation in the throat in the cervical segment. Patients with simple ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament rarely have positive signs, but the signs are widespread. The range of motion of the cervical and lumbar spine may be slightly to moderately limited, mainly affecting the extension and flexion functions.