What is the normal thickness of the ligamentum flavum?
What is the normal thickness of the ligamentum flavum?
3.5 to 4.5 mm
The mean of thickness in most of the studies ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 mm, which is similar to the values of the present study (L3-L4: left, 3.52 mm, right, 3.38 mm; L4-L5: left, 3.84 mm, right, 3.70 mm; L5-S1: left, 3.78 mm, right, 3.65 mm).
Is ligamentum flavum hypertrophy the same as spinal stenosis?
Ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy is a common cause of lumbar spinal stenosis and is thought to be degeneration-driven. Developmental spinal stenosis (DSS) is characterized by pre-existing narrowed spinal canals and is likely a developmental problem that occurs in childhood.
What causes facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy?
Conclusions: Accumulation of fibrosis (scarring) causes hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum. Inflammation-related gene expression is found in the ligamentum flavum. It might be possible to prevent the hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum with antiinflammatory drugs.
Does ligamentum flavum hypertrophy cause pain?
Calcification of the ligament causes hypertrophy and can lead to spinal canal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) which can sometimes cause pain. If the ligamentum flavum buckles to the point that it impinges a spinal nerve, a patient may experience the following symptoms of spinal stenosis: Weakness.
What is ligamentum flavum hypertrophy?
Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy refers to abnormal thickening of the ligamentum flavum. If severe, it can be associated with spinal canal stenosis.
Is ligamentum flavum thickening serious?
Now, let us look at the second most commonplace, or the neck, for ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. The neck is the second most common site for LF overgrowth, but it is critically dangerous. A severely thickened or hypertrophied LF in the neck can cause severe spinal canal stenosis or myelopathy.
What is moderate ligamentum flavum hypertrophy?
What is ligamentum flavum hypertrophy treatment?
The ligamentum flavum seems to be the major cause of root compression in a limited number of patients. The surgical therapy recommended is a total laminectomy with wide resection of the ligamentum flavum and complete disk removal when indicated.
What is severe ligamentum flavum hypertrophy?
How do you treat ligamentum flavum hypertrophy?
The current treatment approach for LF thickening includes operative and nonoperative treatment. Operative treatment includes such procedures as excision of the LF, decompressive laminectomy, and minimally invasive decompression.
What does ligamentum flavum mean?
The ligamentum flavum, or the yellow ligament, is a thick, segmental ligament that runs between the lamina of adjacent vertebrae (Fig. 1-11). It begins on the undersurface of the inferior border of the lamina and courses down to the leading superior edge of the lamina (Fig. 1-12).