Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is common clinical spinal disorders often occurring in the cervical spine, with the main symptom being nerve compression. The specific mechanism of OPLL remains unclear, but genetic factors, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), mechanical stimulation, metabolism abnormality might be involved in the etiology of the disease. Multiple genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of OPLL. OPLL has prominent genetic characteristic, and it is associated with SNPs of several genes. Here we review the SNPs of several genes (COL11A2, BMP-2, TGF-β1, TGF-β3, NPPS, COL6A1 and Runx2) which contribute to the development of OPLL, hoping to lay a foundation for future study.