BACKGROUND Lower thoracic epidural anaesthesia and analgesia (EDA) has gained increasing importance in perioperative pain therapy. The loss-of-resistance technique used to identify the epidural space is thought to rely on the penetration of the ligamentum flavum. Investigations at the cervical and lumbar regions have demonstrated that the ligamentum flavum frequently exhibits incomplete fusion ...

BACKGROUND One of the characteristics of spinal stenosis is elastin degradation and fibrosis of the extracellular matrix of the ligamentum flavum. However, there have been no investigations to determine which biochemical factors cause these histologic changes. So we performed the current study to investigate the hypothesis that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which possess the ability to caus...

Ligamentum flavum cysts have rarely been reported and known to be the uncommon cause of spinal compression and radiculopathy. A 63-year-old man presented right sciatica lasting for 1 month. Lumbar computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an extradural cystic mass adjacent to the L5-S1 facet joints. Partial hemilaminectomy and flavectomy at the L5-S1 space were perform...

BACKGROUND Estradiol plays an important role in the regulation of collagen metabolism. Deficiency of estradiol has been reported to be associated with the degeneration of many connective tissues. However, the association of estradiol and hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum was seldom explored. Therefore, we studied the effects of estradiol on cultured cells from the ligamentum flavum. METHOD...

SHIMADA, Y., KASUKAWA, Y., MIYAKOSHI, N., HONGO, M., ANDO, S. and ITOI, E. Chronic Subdural Hematoma Coexisting with Ligamentum Flavum Hematoma in the Lumbar Spine: A Case Report. Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2006, 210 (1), 83-89 ── We present a case of a chronic spinal subdural hematoma combined with a ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine treated surgically. An 83-year-old woman receiving an...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the ligamentum flavum thickness and remodeling of the spinal canal after anterior fusion during a 10-year follow-up. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE Extreme lateral interbody fusion provides minimally invasive treatment of the lumbar spine; this anterior fusion without direct posterior decompression, ...

Study Design Case report. Objective To report the first case of ligamentum flavum hematoma after cervical spine instrumentation 11 years after the index surgery. Methods After performing bilateral C3 and C4 laminectomy, we observed a dark greenish discoloration over the ligamentum flavum, which was opened. We evacuated 15 mL of subacute hematoma. Results The first ligamentum flavum hematoma of ...

Three Chinese patients suffered from severe lumbar spinal stenosis with debilitating symptoms due to a rare condition of ligamentum flavum cysts in the midline of the lumbar spine. This disease is distinct from synovial cyst of the facet joints or ganglion cysts, both intraoperatively and histopathologically. Magnetic Resonance imaging features of the ligamentum flavum cyst are also demonstrate...

We present 2 cases of ligamentum flavum haematoma causing root compression. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an epidural mass linked to the ligamentum flavum. The mass was isointense in T1-weighted images, and was centrally hyperintense and peripherally hypointense in T2-weighted images. Surgical removal of the ligamentum flavum achieved resolution of the symptoms. The definitive diagnosis cou...

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) causing compressive cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy is rare. A 50-year-old male was admitted for progressive hypesthesia and paresthesia of both hands and a gradually worsening gait. MRI and CT scans demonstrated ossification of the left ligamentum flavum with dural sac and cord compression at the C5-6 level. The ossified ligamentum flavum was re...