title: [Treatment of lumbar stenosis and root pain resulting from simple hypertrophy of lumbar ligamentum flavum].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a better treatment method of lumbar stenosis and root pain resulting from simple hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum.
  
  
  METHODS
  By studying the records of 143 lumbar pain cases, we found 5 cases caused by simple hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum. All the patients were old man with a long progressed history. There was little difference of clinical features between the disc herniation and hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum. All cases accepted resection of ligamentum flavum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the symptoms were relieved postoperatively. The patients could walk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degeneration of lumbar ligamentum flavum can cause lumbar stenosis and root pain. Resection of ligamentum flavum can relieve the symptom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China 610041.
authors.forename: Li-min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yue-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000150:complications; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*