Which population has a high incidence of OPLL?

Which population has a high incidence of OPLL?

• A. Older Japanese Males
• B. Younger American Females
• C. Children
• D. Older African Males

Answer: (A)

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament tends to be more common in East Asian populations, especially as people age, with older Japanese men showing the highest incidence. Aging promotes degenerative changes in the spine, and in Japanese individuals there appears to be a genetic predisposition that increases the likelihood of the ligament ossifying. This combination of advanced age and population-specific susceptibility makes older Japanese males the group most at risk. Other groups, such as younger individuals or non-East Asian populations like Africans, have a much lower incidence.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament tends to be more common in East Asian populations, especially as people age, with older Japanese men showing the highest incidence. Aging promotes degenerative changes in the spine, and in Japanese individuals there appears to be a genetic predisposition that increases the likelihood of the ligament ossifying. This combination of advanced age and population-specific susceptibility makes older Japanese males the group most at risk. Other groups, such as younger individuals or non-East Asian populations like Africans, have a much lower incidence.