title: Neurologic findings caused by ossification of ligamentum flavum at the thoracolumbar junction.
abstract: To evaluate neurologic findings caused by a single ossification of ligamentum fravum (OLF) and identify the level of the lumbar segment of spinal cord.
  
  
  
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  
  Subjects were 28 patients with a single OLF at T10-11 level (15 patients), T11-12 (11), and T12-L1 (2). The tip of the conus medullaris was assessed using computed tomographic myelography or magnetic resonance imaging. Neurologic evaluations were performed for patellar tendon reflex (PTR), sensory disturbance, and motor weakness.
  
  
  
  The tip of the conus medullaris was located at the L1 vertebral body level. At the T10-11 level, all patients showed hyperreflexia of PTR. Sensory disturbance was observed for L1 dermatome and weakness of the iliopsoas was noted. At the T11-12 level, 8 of 11 patients didn't show hyperreflexia of PTR. Sensory disturbance was observed for L5 dermatome and weakness of the tibialis anterior was noted. At the T12-L1 level, all patients showed normal reflex of PTR, sensory disturbance of L5 dermatome, and weakness of the tibialis anterior.
  
  
  
  With regard to the relationship between PTR and OLF level, all patients at the T10-11 level showed involvement of the L3 segment of spinal cord proximally. On the other hand, most patients at the T11-12 level showed involvement of the L4 segment of spinal cord distally. From all neurologic findings, we confirmed the presence of the L4 segment of spinal cord from the lower third of T11 vertebral body to the T11-12 intervertebral disc level.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchiku
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imajo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funaba
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012018:Reflex; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Ligamentum flavum; Neurologic examination; Pathologic ossification; Spinal cord compression; Thoracic diseases
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