What is OPLL? How it should be treated? This volume, amply illustrated, provides information on all aspects of OPLL-epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment - which will be of special interest to orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, as well as to neurologists, rheumatologists, neuroradiologists, and pathologists.

History of Research.- Epidemiology.- Overview of Epidemiology and Genetics.- OPLL: Disease Entity, Incidence, Literature Search, and Prognosis.- Genetic Susceptibility to OPLL.- Pathology and Pathogenesis.- Overview of Etiology and Pathogenesis.- Etiology and Pathogenesis.- Contribution of Metabolic Conditions to Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Spine.- Review of Histopathological Studies on OPLL of the Cervical Spine, with Insights into the Mechanism.- Pathology of Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum.- Possible Roles of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Transforming Growth Factor-?s in the Pathogenesis of OPLL and OLF.- Pathology of Spinal Cord Lesions Caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.- Tiptoe Walking (ttw) Mouse.- Study of Ligament Ossification and Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in the Zucker Fatty Rat.- Experimental Murine Model of Ossification of Spinal Ligaments Induced by Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2.- Spinal Cord Lesions in Spinal Hyperostotic Mouse (twy/twy) Simulating Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Cervical Spine.- Diagnosis of OPLL and OYL.- Diagnosis of OPLL and OYL: Overview.- Clinical Manifestation of Cervical OPLL.- Clinical Manifestations of Thoracic OPLL and OLF.- Diagnostic Imaging of Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.- Imaging Diagnosis of Thoracic OPLL and OLF.- Electrophysiological Diagnosis of Cervical OPLL Myelopathy.- Treatment of OPLL and OLF.- Overview of Treatment for Ossification of the Longitudinal Ligament and the Ligamentum Flavum.- Pharmacotherapy for Ossification of the Spinal Ligaments: Clinical Trial of Disodium (1-Hydroxyethylidene) Diphosphonate to Inhibit Progression of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Cervical Spine after Posterior Decompression Surgery.- Conservative Treatment of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Cervical Spine.- Choice of Surgical Procedure.- Expansive Laminoplasty.- Expansive Open-door Laminoplasty for Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Cervical Spine: Surgical Indications, Technique, and Outcomes.- Double-door Laminoplasty by Splitting Spinous Processes.- Anterior Cervical Decompression for Cervical Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.- Treatment of OPLL and OLF of the Cervical Spine: Long-Term Results.- Choice of Surgical Procedures for Thoracic Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.- Anterior Decompression and Fusion for Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Thoracic Spine: Procedure and Clinical Outcomes of Transthoracic and Transsternal Approaches.- Circumspinal Decompression with Dekyphosis Stabilization for Thoracic Myelopathy due to Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.- Posterior Extensive Cervicothoracic Laminoplasty.- Anterior Decompression Through Posterior Approach for Thoracic Myelopathy Caused by OPLL: Ohtsuka Procedure.- Surgical Treatment for Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Thoracic Spine: Outcomes of One-Stage Posterior Decompression with Corrective Fusion Surgery.- Surgery for Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum.- Computer-Aided Surgery for Ossification of the Spinal Ligaments.- Surgical Treatment of Thoracic Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Intraoperative Spinal Cord Monitoring.- Intraoperative Ultrasonography for Patients with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.