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Category: Volume 07 Issue 06 June 2019
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Title: Clinical Study of Dorsal Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy with Compressive Myelopathy and its Management

Authors: Dr Gitanjali Datta, Gaurav Srivastav, Sabyasachi Saha, Prateek Kumar Gupta, Shri Ram Gupta

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i6.172

Abstract

Introduction

Ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a well-known cause of progressive thoracic  myelopathy  reported in Japanese patients also series are reported from Korea, China, India, Middle East, and Caribbean with sporadic case reports in Caucasians(1). It commonly involves lower thoracic spine (T9–T12) with upper thoracic spine (T1–T4) being the next common site. With the increased use of CT and MRI, ossification or hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is gradually being recognized as a major cause of acquired thoracic spinal canal stenosis.  Spinal cord compression by OLF is more common than by herniated intervertebral discs(3). Posterior decompression by laminectomy is most commonly used. Patients present in variable neurological state. This study aimed at prospective analysis of data of 14 Indian patients who underwent surgical or conservative management for dorsal ligamentum flavum hypertrophy with compressive myelopathy. Correlation of various clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters and preoperative neurological status and recovery studied.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Gitanjali Datta

Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, BIN and IPGME&R Kolkata