Tetraparesis associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine.

This is a case report of tetraparesis associated with extraordinarily severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine. There was no history of trauma. The object of this paper is to show that OPLL can progress relentlessly to a nearly complete quadriplegia even without trauma, but that adequate decompression can produce almost complete recovery.