Difference of Dynamic Morphometric Changes Between in Patients with Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and Patients with Cervical Spondylosis: Assessment by Cervical Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Purpose To evaluate differences between thicknesses of the ligamentum flavum (LF) and diameter of the spinal canal in different neck positions in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and patients with cervical degenerative spondylosis (CDS) using cervical dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Eighty-eight patients (66 CDS and 22 OPLL) who underwent neutral and dynamic MRI at our institute from February 2014 to July 2017 were the subjects of this retrospective study. Canal diameters and LF thicknesses were measured and Muhle's grades were determined in neutral and dynamic MRI from C2–C3 to C7–T1. Patients with CDS and OPLL were compared with respect to changes in morphometric parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and statistical significance was accepted for P values Results Mean ages in the CDS and OPLL groups were 68.2 ± 12.27 and 63.1 ± 9.36 years, respectively. Mean canal diameters were smaller in extension than in neutral at all measured levels, especially between C3–C4 and C6–C7 in patients with CDS. LF thickness in extension was significantly greater than in neutral and flexion positions in the CDS group, but not in the OPLL group. In addition, positional changes in Muhle's grades in the CDS group were significantly greater than in the OPLL group ( P  = 0.042). Conclusions Dynamic morphometric changes were found to be significantly greater in the CDS group than in the OPLL group. The study shows dynamic MRI may provide additional information in CDS patients.