title: Increased bone mineral density in patients with ossification of the ligamentum flavum: a case-control study.
abstract: The present study investigated the bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis in an ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) patient group and a matched control group. We also investigated the correlation of BMD with the number of spine levels exhibiting OLF. From January 1999 to August 2012, 120 patients with spinal OLF underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at our institute, and 102 of those were included in our study. Control group members were age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) matched to OLF group members on a 1:1 basis. Age, sex, and BMI were similar in the OLF and control groups. BMDs of the OLF and control groups were significantly different in the lumbar spine (mean T-scores: -0.2 ± 1.5 and -0.7 ± 1.5, respectively; p = 0.03). The prevalences of osteopenia and osteoporosis tended to be lower in the OLF group (28.3% and 4.0%, respectively) than those in the control group (31.3% and 9.1%, respectively); however, the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.41). A significant positive correlation was detected between the lumbar spine BMD and the number of spine levels exhibiting OLF (p = 0.03).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chungc@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chun Kee
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Bone mineral density; case-control study; ossification of the ligamentum flavum; osteoporosis; spine