Cervical Myelopathy Due to Calcification of Ligamentum Flavum at the Atlantoaxial Junction: Case Report

ABSTRACT

The authors report a very rare case of marked segmental stenosis of the atlantoaxial junction causing cervical myelopathy. A 53-year-old woman suffered from burning paresthesia of both upper extremities and progressive gait disturbance for 3 years. Magnetic resonance images showed that spinal cord was markedly compressed due to hypertrophied and calcified ligamentum flavum at the atlantoaxial junction. She made a full recovery following decompressive laminectomy of atlas and axis. A posterior decompression may constitute adequate treatment and provide neurological improvement.