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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Laminectomy for the Removal of Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum (TOLF) Using Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomes
Published on: April 21, 2023
Thoracic myelopathy caused by calcified ligamentum flavum
Marco Giulioni1, Mino Zucchelli, Stefania Damiani
1Department of Neurosurgery, Bellaria Hospital, Via Altura, 3, 40100 Bologna, Italy. giulioni.m@tiscali.it
Abstract:
Calcification of the ligamentum flavum is a rare manifestation of the calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD). In CPPD deposition disease, spinal involvement is rare. Until now, thoracic spine CPPD causing thoracic cord compression has been reported in only sporadic cases. We report a new case of thoracic calcification of the ligamentum flavum. In our case, similar to the other reported cases, an affected middle-aged woman despite the clinical and MRI signs of myelopathy had an unexpected important and rapid improvement of the neurological picture. This condition should be considered in differential diagnosis of thoracic cord compression to offer the patient an early and useful surgical treatment.
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