Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: An Anatomical Case Report

Abstract

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) is a noninflammatory disease of unknown cause characterised by osteophytic calcification or ossification of ligaments and enthesis; especially spinal. Authors hereby present a case report of a 65-year-old male cadaver, in whom the fusion of contiguous nine vertebrae from fifth thoracic to first lumbar vertebrae, because of ossification of the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL) was noticed. The tenth and eleventh thoracic vertebrae seemed to be affected worse, as maximum osseous anterior outgrowth (12 mm) of ossified ALL, ossification of Ligamentum Flavum (LF) and supraspinous ligament was also observed at this level. The Ossification of Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (OALL) along with the involvement of LF has not been classically reported. Ossification of spinal ligaments may cause local thoracic pain, stiffness and slowly progressive myelopathy. Ossified LF at the level of joint between tenth and eleventh thoracic vertebrae may result in compression of spinal cord at this level.

Keywords

• anterior longitudinal ligament
• ligamentum flavum
• ossification