OBJECT: Symptomatic thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is rare, and its prognostic factors remain unclear. The authors retrospectively studied 24 patients with surgically treated thoracic OLF to delineate its prognostic factor. METHODS: The clinical manifestations, radiological studies, surgical records, and pathological findings were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative neurological data were reappraised using the American Spinal Injury Association and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring systems. Spearman rank-correlation coefficients and nonparametric tests were used to analyze the correlations between the variables of patient characteristics, preoperative duration of symptoms, preoperative neurological status, associated spinal disorder(s) other than thoracic OLF, and the final functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Decompressive surgery is indicated in patients in whom symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression is caused by intruding OLF. Magnetic resonance imaging can provide sufficient clues for the diagnosis of thoracic OLF. Higher preoperative modified JOA scores of 3 and 4 are positively correlated with better postoperatiVe functional recovery than lower scores. Surgery should be performed as soon as possible before independent ambulatory function is impaired.
OBJECT: Symptomatic thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is rare, and its prognostic factors remain unclear. The authors retrospectively studied 24 patients with surgically treated thoracic OLF to delineate its prognostic factor. METHODS: The clinical manifestations, radiological studies, surgical records, and pathological findings were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative neurological data were reappraised using the American Spinal Injury Association and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring systems. Spearman rank-correlation coefficients and nonparametric tests were used to analyze the correlations between the variables of patient characteristics, preoperative duration of symptoms, preoperative neurological status, associated spinal disorder(s) other than thoracic OLF, and the final functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Decompressive surgery is indicated in patients in whom symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression is caused by intruding OLF. Magnetic resonance imaging can provide sufficient clues for the diagnosis of thoracic OLF. Higher preoperative modified JOA scores of 3 and 4 are positively correlated with better postoperatiVe functional recovery than lower scores. Surgery should be performed as soon as possible before independent ambulatory function is impaired.
Authors: Sang Hoon Yoon; Wook Ha Kim; Sang-Bong Chung; Yong Jun Jin; Kun Woo Park; Joon Woo Lee; Sang-Ki Chung; Ki-Jeong Kim; Jin S Yeom; Tae-Ahn Jahng; Chun Kee Chung; Heung Sik Kang; Hyun-Jib Kim Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2010-07-14 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Ning Lang; Hui Shu Yuan; Hong Lei Wang; Jing Liao; Man Li; Fu Xin Guo; Shan Shi; Zhong Qiang Chen Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2012-09-15 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Nebiyu S Osman; Zoe B Cheung; Awais K Hussain; Kevin Phan; Varun Arvind; Khushdeep S Vig; Luilly Vargas; Jun S Kim; Samuel Kang-Wook Cho Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2018-07-15 Impact factor: 3.241