J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  1997 Nov;4(2):350-356.

Ossifications of the Ligamentum Flavum and the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament of the Lumbar Spine

• Park SR
• Kim HS
• Kang JS
• Lee WH
• Lee JH
• Park JS

Abstract

Ossifications of the ligamentum flavum(OLF) and the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) are uncommon clinical entities as a cause of the progressive compression myelopathy or radiculopathy. Although there are considerable literatures concerning OPLL or OLF in cervical and thoracic spine, there are only a few references about OPLL or OLF in the lumbar spine. OLF and OPLL have been reported that they may lead to severe complication only with a minor trauma or even without trauma, such as paraplegia. The authors have experienced 2 cases of OLF accompanied by OPLL In the lumbar spine, who were treated with decompressive laminectomy and excision of ossified ligaments. For its rarity of OLF and OPLL in the lumbar region, we report here with review of literature.

MeSH Terms

Laminectomy
Ligaments
Ligamentum Flavum*
Longitudinal Ligaments*
Lumbosacral Region
Paraplegia
Radiculopathy
Spinal Cord Diseases
Spine*