OSSIFICATION OF THE LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM IN THE THORACIC SPINE: A REPORT OF TWENTY-SIX CASES / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Twenty-six patients with stenosis of the thoracic spinal canal and myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum were treated from 1983 to June 1991. There were 21 patients with spastic paraplegia and 5 with flaccid paraplegia in the series. The findings on radiograms, CT scans, myelograms and MRI were described. Total laminectomy was performed in all of the patients which resulted in an effective rate of 91.6% and exellent and good results in 83.3%. The mechanism of the disease our experience in diagnosis and surgical treatment, causes of misdiagnosis and surgical techniques are discussed.