Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Ossification of the spinal ligament often compresses the spinal cord and is believed to be an important cause of lumbodorsal pain. As the development of iconography and the increasing attention to spinal anal stenosis, it is not uncommon to detect it. However, the pathogenesis has not been conclusively established.
OBJECTIVE: To make an overall understanding of spinal ligament ossification, summarize the relative pathological research and to discuss its research tendency.
METHODS: A literature search was performed using the term “spine, ligament and ossification” for papers published between 1999 and 2009 pertaining to ossification of spinal ligament. Articles published in other languages except Chinese and English were excluded. Contents concerning the pathogenesis of spinal ligament ossification were summarized and the research tendency was discussed. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 34 articles were finally involved in the final analysis. Currently, repetitive mechanical stress, change of element in body, disturbance of endocrine and metabolism, unhealthy lifestyle, diet and schizophrenia are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of spinal ligament ossification. However, most of conclusions are hypothesis, which lack of experimental proofs. The further study of spinal ligament ossification focuses on the interactions of various factors, which can provide theoretical basis for prevention and treatment of spinal ligament ossification.