• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2008

Ligamentum flavum hematoma is a rare condition. Twenty cases including present case have been reported in English-language literature. Among them, only one case reported in pure thoracic spine. A 72-year-old man presented with thoracic myelopathy without precedent cause. Magnetic resonance images revealed a posterior semicircular mass which was located in T7 and T8 level compressing the spinal cord dorsally. T7-8 total laminectomy and extirpation of the mass was performed. One month later following surgery, the patient fully recovered to normal state. Pathologic result was confirmed as ligamentum flavum hematoma. Ligamentum flavum hematoma of rigid thoracic spine is a very rare disease entity. Most reported cases were confined to mobile cervical and lumbar spine. Surgeons should be aware that there seems to be another different pathogenesis other than previously reported cases of mobile cervical and lumbar spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.58-60
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• 2011

Ligamentum flavum hematoma (LFH) is a very rare condition of dural compression; most are observed in the mobile cervical and lumbar spine regions. A 67-year-old man who had a long level interbody fusion at L3-S1 four years ago presented with symptoms suggestive of dural compression. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a posterior semicircular mass located at the adjacent L2-L3 level. After decompression of the spinal canal and removal of the mass lesion, pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a hematoma within the ligamentum. The patient fully recovered to normal status after surgery. Here, we report our experience with a LFH in the adjacent segment after a long level fusion procedure and discuss the possible associated mechanisms.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the various imaging factors associated with aggravation of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and develop a scoring system for prediction of LDH aggravation. Materials and Methods: From 2015 to 2017, we retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 60 patients (30 patients with aggravated LDH and 30 patients without any altered LDH). Imaging factors for MRI evaluation included the level of LDH, disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy, facet joint degeneration, ligamentum flavum thickness and interspinous ligament degeneration. Flexion-extension difference was measured with simple radiography. The scoring system was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The aggravated group manifested a higher grade of disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy and facet degeneration than the control group. The ligamentum flavum thickness in the aggravated group was thicker than in the group with unaltered LDH. The summation score was defined as the sum of the grade of disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy and facet joint degeneration. The area under the ROC curve showing the threshold value of the summation score for prediction of aggravation of LDH was 0.832 and the threshold value corresponded to 6.5. Conclusion: Disc degeneration, facet degeneration, back muscle atrophy and ligamentum flavum thickness are important factors in predicting aggravation of LDH and may facilitate the determination of treatment strategy in patients with LDH. The summation score is available as supplemental data.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.599-603
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• 2000

Objectives : In lumbar spine surgery it is observed that the ligamentum flavum(LF) is bilayered, and the inner layers can be left in situ to prevent peridural adhesion in open lumbar disc surgeries. The purposes of this study are to investigate ultrastructural differences between the inner and outer layer of lumbar LF by electron microscopic examination, and to see whether these differences are, if present, more prominent in chronic degenerative lumbar spinal disorders as compared with acute lumbar disc diseases. Methods : Biopsy specimens of LF were obtained from nine patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery, five of them for degenerative spinal stenosis and four for acute disc herniation. During the surgery the outer layers of LF were carefully dissected from the inner layer, and four pieces($1{\times}1{\times}1-mm$) of biopsy samples were made from each layer. These were examined with electron microscope for the morphologies and the contents of the elastic and the collagen fibers. Results : The outer layer of LF showed elastic fiber degeneration as evidenced and decreased fiber content, while the inner layer was relatively preserved in both cases of degenerative spinal stenosis and acute disc herniation. The ultrastructural changes of the layers were more evident in the outer layer. Conclusion : With these observations the authors believe that the LF degeneration may occur mainly in the outer layer, and that this fact may aid in making the rationale for using the inner layer as physiologic barrier to prevent peridural adhesion in open lumbar disc surgeries.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.67-69
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• 2002

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum(OLF) is not infrequent in the cervical and lumbar regions but is very rare in the thoracic spine. We reported a 62-year-old women with left thoracic intercostal neuralgia due to an OLF. Physical and neurological examination were normal. MRI showed an OLF with compression of the thecal sac in the posterolateral aspect of the T9-T10 level. Laminectomy and removal of the ligament resulted in marked clinical improvement. OLF is known to cause thoracic radiculomyelopathy, but presentation with intercostal neuralgia only is very rare.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2015

Objective : Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a relatively rare disease. Because of ambiguous clinical symptom, it is difficult for early diagnosis of OLF and subsequent treatment can be delayed or missed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess the prevalence and distribution of thoracic OLF by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and coexisting spinal disease in Korean patients with back pain or leg pain. Methods : The sample included 2134 Korean patients who underwent MRI evaluation for back pain. The prevalence and distribution of thoracic OLF were assessed using lumbar MRI with whole spine sagittal images. Additionally, we examined the presence of coexisting lumbar and cervical diseases. The presence of thoracic OLF as well as clinical parameters such as age, sex, and surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The prevalence of thoracic OLF in total patients was 16.9% (360/2134). The prevalence tended to increase with aging and was higher in women than in men. The lower thoracic segment of T10-11 was the most frequently affected segment. Of the 360 patients with OLF, 31.9% had coexisting herniated thoracic discs at the same level. Approximately 74% of the patients with OLF had coexisting lumbar and cervical disease. Nine (2.5%) of 360 OLF patients underwent surgery for thoracic lesion. Conclusion : The prevalenceof thoracic OLF was relatively higher than those of previous reports. And coexisting lumbar and cervical disease were very frequent. Therefore, we should check coexisting spinal diseases and the exact diagnostic localization of ossification besides lumbar disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2012

Objective : There were previous reports of redundant nerve roots (RNRs) focused on their clinical significance and pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the significant radiologic findings that correlate with RNRs occurrence. These relations would provide an advanced clue for clinical significance and pathogenesis of RNRs. Methods : Retrospective research was performed with data from 126 patients who underwent surgery for central lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Finally, 106 patients with common denominators (inter-observer accuracy : 84%) were included on this study. We divided the patients into two groups by MRI, patients with RNRs and those with no RNRs (NRNRs). Comparative analyses were performed with clinical and radiologic parameters. Results : RNRs were found in 45 patients (42%) with central LSS. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in severity of symptoms. On the other hand, we found statistically significant differences in duration of symptom and number of level included (p<0.05). In the maximal stenotic level, ligamentum flavum (LF) thickness, LF cross-sectional area (CSA), dural sac CSA, and segmental angulation are significantly different in RNRs group compared to NRNRs group (p<0.05). Conclusion : RNRs patients showed clinically longer duration of symptoms and multiple levels included. We also confirmed that wide segmental angulation and LF hypertrophy play a major role of the development of RNRs in central LSS. Together, our results suggest that wide motion in long period contribute to LF hypertrophy, and it might be the key factor of RNRs formation in central LSS.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2012

Background: Previous studies have shown that if performed without radiographic guidance, the loss of resistance (LOR) technique can result in inaccurate needle placement in up to 30% of lumbar epidural blocks. To date, no study has shown the efficacy of measuring the depth of the posterior complex (ligamentum flavum, epidural space, and posterior dura) ultrasonographically to distinguish true and false LOR. Methods: 40 cervical epidural blocks were performed using the LOR technique and confirmed by epidurograms. Transverse ultrasound images of the C6/7 area were taken before each cervical epidural block, and the distances from the skin to the posterior complex, transverse process, and supraspinous ligament were measured on each ultrasound view. The number of LOR attempts was counted, and the depth of each LOR was measured with a standard ruler. Correlation of false and true positive LOR depth with ultrasonographically measured depth was also statistically analyzed. Results: 76.5% of all cases (26 out of 34) showed false positive LOR. Concordance correlation coefficients between the measured distances on ultrasound (skin to ligamentum flavum) and actual needle depth were 0.8285 on true LOR. Depth of the true positive LOR correlated with height and weight, with a mean of $5.64{\pm}1.06cm$, while the mean depth of the false positive LOR was $4.08{\pm}1.00cm$. Conclusions: Ultrasonographic measurement of the ligamentum flavum depth (or posterior complex) preceding cervical epidural block is beneficial in excluding false LOR and increasing success rates of cervical epidural blocks.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2015

Objective : Lumbar spinal stenosis is conventionally treated with surgical decompression. However, bilateral decompression and laminectomy is more invasive and may not be necessary for lumbar stenosis patients with unilateral radiculopathy. We aimed to report the outcomes of unilateral laminectomy and bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy. Methods : Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with unilateral lower extremity radiculopathy who received limited unilateral decompression and bilateral pedicle screw fixation were included and evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Ligamentum flavum thickness of the involved segments was measured on axial magnetic resonance images. Results : Twenty-five patients were included. The mean preoperative VAS score was $6.6{\pm}1.6$ and $4.6{\pm}3.1$ for leg and back pain, respectively. Ligamentum flavum thickness was comparable between the symptomatic and asymptomatic side (p=0.554). The mean follow-up duration was 29.2 months. The pain in the symptomatic side lower extremity (VAS score, $1.32{\pm}1.2$) and the back (VAS score, $1.75{\pm}1.73$) significantly improved (p=0.000 vs. baseline for both). The ODI improved significantly postoperatively ($6.60{\pm}6.5$; p=0.000 vs. baseline). Significant improvement in VAS pain and ODI scores were observed in patients receiving single or multi-segment decompression fusion with fixation (p<0.01). Conclusion : Limited laminectomy and unilateral spinal decompression followed by bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion achieves satisfactory outcomes in patients with spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy. This procedure is less damaging to structures that are important for maintaining posterior stability of the spine.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.551-557
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• 2001

Occlusion of the dural-sac in the lumbar spine was quantitatively analysed using a one motion segment finite element mode developed in this study. Occlusion was quantified by calculating the cross sectional area chance of the dural-sac. In static analysis. less than 2 kN of compressive load could Produced no dural-sac occlusion. whereas 6kN load reduced cross sectional area by 4%, and produced 7.4%, 10.5% occlusion for additional 8 Nm. 10 Nm extension moments. respectively. In creep analysis, 10 Nm extension reduced cross sectional area and volume of the dural-sac by 6.9% and 2.4%, respectively. However. flexion moment could not produce any occlusion. The results suggested that occlusions may result mainly from slackening of ligamentum flavum and disc budging.