OPLL

Part 1 Introduction 1 History of research Part 2 Epidemiology 2 An Overview of Epidemiology and Genetics 3 OPLL: Disease entity, prevalence, literature research, and growth 4 Natural History of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL) Part 3 Pathology & Pathogenesis 5 Overview of Recent Basic Researches on OPLL and OLF 6 Histopathological Features of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament 7 Ectopic Ossification of Human Spinal Ligaments Caused by Mesenchymal Stem Cell Abnormalities  8 A Short History of Genetic Study of OPLL 9 Overview of possible roles of OPLL-associated genes in OPLL development 10 Application of iPS cell technology for OPLL 11 Mechanisms underlying OPLL development in Tiptoe Walking (ttw) Mice 12 In vivo tracing of neural tracts in tip-toe walking Yoshimura mice by diffusion tensor tractography 13 Metabolomics analysis in OPLL patients Part 4 Diagnosis 14 Diagnosis of OPLL and OLF: overview 15 Clinical manifestation of cervical OPLL 16 Three-dimensional imaging of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament 17 Clinical manifestations of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ossification of the ligament flavum (OLF) 18 Evaluation of distribution patterns of spinal ligament ossification using whole-spine computed tomography in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament 19 Diagnostic imaging of thoracic OPLL and OLF 20 Biomechanics of the spinal cord compression due to cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament Part 5 Treatment 21 Surgical Indications and Choice of Surgical Procedure for Cervical Ossification of the Longitudinal Ligament 22 Overview of Laminoplasty 23 Open-door Laminoplasty for Cervical OPLL: Technique, Long-term Results, and Complications 24 Double-door Laminoplasty for Cervical OPLL : Technique, Complications and Long-term Results 25 Posterior Decompression and Fusion for Cervical OPLL:

Atsushi Okawa, MD and PhD, is a Professor and Chairman of Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He also serves as a director of the university. He has previously served as Vice-president of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, and as chief researcher in a study group on the ossification of the spinal ligaments, supported by a Japanese Health Labor Sciences Research Grant for six years until 2019. His chief areas of expertise are anterior corpectomy and fusion for OPLL and research into spinal cord monitoring. He has published over 100 papers in these areas.

Morio Matsumoto, MD and PhD, is a Professor and Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at Keio University. He also serves as President of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. His research interests include genetic studies on ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and idiopathic and congenital scoliosis, as well as clinical studies on various spinal disorders. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles in the field of orthopedics.

Motoki Iwasaki is Vice-President of Osaka Rosai Hospital and a Clinical Professor at Osaka University's Graduate School of Medicine. He has previously served as a visiting assistant professor at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCSF (1995-1997). His main research interests are in OPLL and spinal deformities. He has published over 250 papers and over 60 books. He also serves as an editor for Spine Surgery and Related Research, and for Journal of Orthopaedic Science. He has been honored e.g. with an Academic Encouragement Award (JOA, 1994), New Investigators Recognition Award (ORS, 1997), and Clinical Research Award (CSRS, 2001 & 2003).

Yoshiharu Kawaguchi is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toyama. He also serves as Educational Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, AOSpine Asia Pacific region and has previously chaired the International Committee of the Japanese