Spinal compression due to ossified yellow ligament: a short series of 5 patients and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Ossification of ligamentum flavum in the thoracic region causing compressive myelopathy among middle-aged patients is a poorly described entity.


METHODS
Five patients of Indian origin with OYL are described. Their clinical presentations, surgical options, and long-term outcome are presented. Radiologic and clinical follow-up of one of the patient is described over a span of 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Decompressive laminectomy and excision of the OYL is the commonly performed surgical procedure. A rapid neurologic improvement follows decompression. The persistent spasticity in certain patients is attributed to irreversible changes within the cord. The disease is thought to be progressive in nature. The prolonged follow-up of these patients suggests that the long-term prognosis is poor. Selective racial involvement and variable clinical presentations, with treatment options, are discussed.
Mohindra
Sandeep
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012 India. satya_sandee@yahoo.com
Chhabra
Rajesh
R
Mukherjee
Kanchan Kumar
KK
Gupta
Sunil Kumar
SK
Vaiphei
Kim
K
Khosla
Virender Kumar
VK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020336:Paraparesis, Spastic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome