Thoracic myelopathy caused by calcification of the ligamentum flavum.
calcification of the ligamentum flavum
decompression with fusion surgery
thoracic myelopathy
Journal
Journal of rural medicine : JRM
ISSN: 1880-487X
Titre abrégé: J Rural Med
Pays: Japan
ID NLM: 101274897
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Apr 2020
Apr 2020
Historique:
received:
19
11
2019
accepted:
05
12
2019
entrez:
8
4
2020
pubmed:
8
4
2020
medline:
8
4
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Calcification of the ligamentum flavum (CLF), which is a rare disorder that can potentially cause myelopathy, occurs uncommonly in the thoracic spine. Here, we report a rare case of thoracic myelopathy caused by CLF in a 78-year-old man. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed posterior spinal cord compression by a hypo-signal intense mass, and computed tomography (CT) revealed CLF and vacuum disc phenomenon at T10/11. After undergoing posterior decompression and instrumented fusion (T9-T12), the patient's gait difficulties improved. The pathogenesis of CLF is largely unknown; however, it involves accumulation of calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate crystals (CPPD), and CLF from CPPD deposition tends to occur within a thickened and hypertrophic ligament. CLF occurs predominantly in the cervical spine and less frequently in the lumbar spine, with few cases involving the thoraco-lumbar spine. The thoracic spine is characterized by hypomobility; however, the thoraco-lumbar spine has a mobile segment which may potentiate CLF formation. Decompression with fusion surgery can be useful for treating patients with thoraco-lumbar CLF.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32256869
doi: 10.2185/jrm.2019-018
pii: 2019-018
pmc: PMC7110097
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
65-67Informations de copyright
©2020 The Japanese Association of Rural Medicine.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that there they have no conflict of interest related to the present study.
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