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Laminectomy for the Removal of Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum TOLF Using Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomes
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"Thickened" ligamentum flavum caused by laminectomy
Fatma Bahar Hacıoğlu Kasım1, Ozgur Tosun2, Emin Kasım3
1Tekirdağ Private Yasam Hospital, Department of Radiology, Tekirdag, Turkey.
Neurologia I Neurochirurgia Polska
|June 7, 2015
Summary
Laminectomy surgery can cause the adjacent ligamentum flavum (LF) to thicken. This ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) may lead to recurring symptoms, necessitating careful post-operative evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Laminectomy is a common spinal decompression procedure.
- Potential complications include adjacent segment pathology.
- Ligamentum flavum (LF) changes post-laminectomy are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of laminectomy on the thickness of the adjacent ligamentum flavum (LF).
- To investigate the potential for ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) after laminectomy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 78 patients who underwent laminectomy.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure LF thickness.
- Measurements focused on the thickest portions of the LF adjacent to the laminectomy level.
Main Results:
- The ligamentum flavum (LF) on the same side as the laminectomy was significantly thicker than the contralateral side.
- This finding suggests a localized hypertrophic response of the LF to surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
- Laminectomy can lead to thickening of the adjacent ligamentum flavum (LF).
- Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is a potential complication that may cause recurrent symptoms.
- Clinical and radiological assessments are crucial for diagnosing LFH in post-laminectomy patients.
