title: Ossification of the ligamentum flavum in cervical and thoracic spine. Report of three cases.
abstract: Ossification of ligamentum flavum (LF) is a pathological condition that causes neurological symptoms and usually occurs in the thoracic spine and less frequently in the cervical spine. Symptomatology usually involves occipital headache in the early stage, neck pain and later sensory disturbances of upper and lower extremities, gait disturbance, restricted cervical movement and tetraparesis. Herewith, we report on 3 cases of ossification of the LF in the cervical and thoracic spine that had a favourable outcome after surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fotakopoulos
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Alexiou
authors.forename: Evaggelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mihos
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voulgaris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*