Table 3.

Summary of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and lumbar degenerative scoliosis (DS).

CSM

Complex disease with multiple degenerative processes contributing to underlying spondylosis

Studies support an inherited predisposition to the disease

Several genes have been implicated in CSM, but more studies are needed to confirm their genetic role in the disease

OPLL

Data support the heritability of OPLL, and first-degree family members are at a much higher risk than others

Col6A1 and Col11A2 are suggested by multiple studies to be associated with OPLL

Multiple SNPs have been implicated in OPLL, along with several new genes from a genome-wide association study, but more work is needed to confirm their involvement

DS

No studies have established any inherited predisposition to DS

Fewer studies examining genetic associations have been performed for DS compared to CSM and OPLL, but there appear to be genetic contributions to DS

More studies are required to identify participating genetic alterations in the disease pathogenesis