Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Vol , Num

Thoracic Ossification of Ligamentum Flavum Without Myelopathy: A Case of Dorsal Pai

Sinan Bahadır 1 ,Ahmet Yılmaz 2
1 Bafra Devlet Hastanesi, Nöroşirurji Kliniği, Samsun, Türkiye
2 Bafra Devlet Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Samsun, Türkiye
DOI : 10.5152/tftrd.2015.75547

Spinal stenosis in thoracic region is less recognized and less common than other regions. A variety of disorders such as facet hypertrophy, anterior disc protrusion, spondylotic spurs, ossified posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy or ossification may lead to stenosis. Lower thoracic segments (T9-12) are most frequently involved. Ossification of ligamentum flavum, though a major cause of thoracic stenosis in Japanese population, is uncommon in Caucasian people. Numbness of the leg, followed by paraparesis and leg pain are the most common initial symptoms while a minority of patients have truncal pain as an initial symptom. In this report we present a case of thoracic stenosis that is unusual in multiple aspects: A Caucasian female, having trunkal pain as initial symptom and ossification of ligamentum flavum in upper thoracic region.

Keywords : Ossification, ligamentum flavum, spinal stenosis, dorsal pai