RESUMO
BACKGROUND:Current studies on the pathogenesis of ossification of the ligamentum flavum are stil in a preliminary stage, and any single factor influencing incidence of ossification of ligamentum flavum cannot completely explain the pathogenesis of this disease. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the pathogenesis of ossification of ligamentum flavum. METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in PubMed, Wanfang, and CNKI databases from January 1990 to December 2015 to screen the relevant literatures regarding the pathogenesis of ossification of the ligamentum flavum using Chinese and English key words“ossification of ligamentum flavum, basic research, pathogenesis, gene, bone morphogenetic protein, osteopontin”. Consequently, 63 eligible literatures were included after the exclusion of the repetitive and old ones. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Current studies have shown that ossification of the ligamentum flavum is a disease that results from multiple genetic and environmental causes and is one of the main causes of spinal stenosis. Tissue degeneration, local biomechanics, genetic factors, metabolic disorders, trace elements and vascular inflammation are all shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of ossification of ligamentum flavum.