title: Unilateral contiguous two level thoracic ossified hypertrophied facet joints with compressive myelopathy.
abstract: Ossified hypertrophy of the facet joints in the thoracic region is very uncommon. We present a rare case of thoracic unilateral ossified hypertrophied facet joints with compressive myelopathy in a patient with scoliosis. The diagnosis is made with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies of the dorsal spine. Decompressive laminectomy and medial facetectomy was performed. Patient improved neurologically to normal status within 2 months. We present the review of the literature on the facet joint hypertrophy producing dorsal myelopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, NRI Academy of Sciences, Mangalagiri, India.
authors.forename: Amit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Thotakura
authors.forename: Mohana Rao
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Patibandla
authors.forename: Manas Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.forename: Nageswara Rao
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Marabathina