Thoracic myelopathy caused by calcification of the ligamentum flavum

• Miura Kousei

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Koda Masao

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Abe Tetsuya

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Funayama Toru

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Noguchi Hiroshi

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Kumagai Hiroshi

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Nagashima Katsuya

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Mataki Kentaro

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Shibao Yosuke

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Yamazaki Masashi

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

抄録

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.

収録刊行物

• Journal of Rural Medicine

  Journal of Rural Medicine 15 (2), 65-67, 2020

  一般社団法人 日本農村医学会

キーワード

• calcification of the ligamentum flavum
• thoracic myelopathy
• decompression with fusion surgery

詳細情報

• CRID: 1390565134844173824
• NII論文ID: 130007825776
• DOI: 10.2185/jrm.2019-018
• ISSN: 18804888
• ISSN: 1880487X
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrm/15/2/15_2019-018/_pdf
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2021043129
• 本文言語コード: en
• データソース種別:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
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