Ossification of ligamentum flavum related to progressive thoracic myelopathy and acute paraplegia in a Central-European male with a thoracic kyphoscoliosis

Erdani, Danijel (author), Topolovec, Matevž (author), Hero, Nikša (author), Brumat, Peter (author)

The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) presents a significant risk factor in the development of spinal cord compression in the (lower) thoracic spine, particularly in eastern Asian elderly males. The definite causes for OLF have not yet been fully uncovered, whereby age, genetics, metabolic disorders and mechanical stress are deemed among the most plausible pathophysiological factors in OLF. Spinal deformities (mostly kyphotic) are associated with an excess in tensile forces, which may lead to hypertrophy and OLF. This unique case of OLF-related acute paraplegia and progressive thoracic myelopathy in a Central-European male patient may indicate the role of a (kyphoscoliotic) spinal deformity in the initiation and progression of the OLF-related (thoracic) myelopathy. Promptly initiated surgical decompression and (partial) deformity correction may, along with proper subsequent intradisciplinary rehabilitation process, greatly improve the clinical outcome post-treatment, especially in terms of quality of life and residual pain.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ossification of ligamentum flavum, thoracic myelopathy, thoracic kyphoscoliosis, trauma, orthopaedic surgery
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.03 - Short Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 4 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 2023, iss. 2, art. rjad070
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-147270
• UDC: 617.3
• ISSN on article: 2042-8812
• DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjad070
• COBISS.SI-ID: 143666435
• Publication date in RUL: 28.06.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of surgical case reports
• Shortened title: J. surg. case rep.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, JSCR Publishing
• ISSN: 2042-8812
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519980313

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: okostenitev rumenega ligamenta, torakalna mielopatija, torakalna kifoskolioza