Cervical myelopathy from calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition: a case report
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Panayiotis J. Papagelopoulos; Spyridon G. Pneumaticos; Demetrios S. Korres; Andreas F. Mavrogenis
- Source
- European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology. 20:483-487
- Subject
- musculoskeletal diseases
Neck pain
medicine.medical_specialty
Spinal stenosis
Decompression
business.industry
Dura mater
musculoskeletal system
medicine.disease
Surgery
Myelopathy
medicine.anatomical_structure
medicine
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Radiology
Pseudogout
medicine.symptom
business
Chondrocalcinosis
Calcification
- Language
- ISSN
- 1432-1068
1633-8065
Calcification of the ligamentum flavum secondary to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition may be a rare cause of cervical myelopathy. We present a 56-year-old man with spinal stenosis secondary to CPPD disease and subacute cervical myelopathy following minor trauma. The patient had no history of CPPD disease. Posterior C4-C6 decompression and instrumented fusion were performed. Intraoperative findings were densely thickened ligamentum flavum and distortion of the cervical dura mater due to impingement. Histological sections of discs and ligamentum flavum specimens showed CPPD crystals. Postoperatively, neck pain and paresthesias improved immediately. At 2 weeks after spinal surgery, the patient experienced acute right knee swelling. Standard radiographs showed chondrocalcinosis of the knee menisci.