J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2003 May;33(5):517-520.

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

• Lee SJ
• Oh SH
• Lee KS
• Cheong JH

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.

Keyword

Ligament flavum; Calcification; Atlantoaxial junction; Myelopathy; Laminectomy

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Burns
Constriction, Pathologic
Decompression
Female
Gait
Humans
Laminectomy
Ligamentum Flavum*
Middle Aged
Paresthesia
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Diseases*
Upper Extremity