Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum of the Cervical Spine in an Iranian Woman: Report of a Case With Myelopathy and Review of the Literature

Rahimizadeh, Abolfazl; Ahmadi , Seyed-Ali; Soufiani , Housain; L. Williamson , Walter; Amirzadeh , Mahan; Rahimizadeh , Shaghayegh

doi:10.32598/irjns.9.17

Volume 9 - Continuous publishing Iran J Neurosurg 2023, 9 - Continuous publishing: 17-17 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.32598/irjns.9.17

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Rahimizadeh A, Ahmadi S, Soufiani H, L. Williamson W, Amirzadeh M, Rahimizadeh S. Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum of the Cervical Spine in an Iranian Woman: Report of a Case With Myelopathy and Review of the Literature. Iran J Neurosurg 2023; 9 :17-17
URL: http://irjns.org/article-1-330-en.html

Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum of the Cervical Spine in an Iranian Woman: Report of a Case With Myelopathy and Review of the Literature

Abolfazl Rahimizadeh

¹, Seyed-Ali Ahmadi²

, Housain Soufiani², Walter L. Williamson²

, Mahan Amirzadeh²

, Shaghayegh Rahimizadeh²

1- Pars Advanced and Minimally Invasive Medical Manners Research Center, Pars Hospital, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , a_rahimizadeh@hotmail.com
2- Pars Advanced and Minimally Invasive Medical Manners Research Center, Pars Hospital, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (246 Views)

Background and Importance: Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a pathological condition that affects the yellow ligaments, mostly in adult males between the ages of 45 to 70. Ossification is more common in the thoracolumbar region with an accompanying progressive neurological deficit, and its occurrence within the cervical spine is quite rare. Ossification of the yellow ligament is so common in East Asian countries that it is regarded as a frequently occurring aging pathology in the people of this region. Its existence in other ethnic groups is significantly lower.
Case Presentation: A 68-year-old Iranian woman with progressive quadriparesis is presented. Cervical computerized tomography and MRI scans revealed two-level, bilateral, posteriorly located, ossified masses occurring at the C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels, which coincided with the ossification of the yellow ligament. Cervical laminectomy and excision of both masses were undertaken and the patient gradually recovered from his resultant neurological symptoms.
Conclusion: Symptomatic cervical OLF is a markedly rare pathological finding and is typically illustrated as a medical case report. In a careful review of the literature including the presented patient, we could uncover only 77 cases involving a documented symptomatic cervical OLF.

Keywords: Cervical myelopathy, Spine, Calcification of ligamentum flavum, Ossification of ligamentum flavum, Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

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Type of Study: Case report | Subject: Spine

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