• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.109-111
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• 2008

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) usually occurs in the lower thoracic spine, and is rare in the cervical region. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman who presented a seven month's history of progressive weakness and paresthesia in her right upper extremity. MRI and CT scans of the spine revealed the presence of ossified ligamentum flavum from C3-C4. A cervical laminectomy resulted in a good post-operative improvement of muscle strength.

• 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.29 no.10
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• pp.1377-1382
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• 2000

Ossification of ligamentum flavum(OLF) is a type of ectopic bone formation developed within the spinal ligament. Thoracic myelopathy is common symptom of OLF but radiculopathy is uncommon. We present 3 operated cases of OLF. Two showed myelopathy and one radiculomyelopathy. Main symptoms were motor weakness, sensory disturbance, incoordination of both legs, and back pain. One patient complained of left girdle pain in T4 dermatome. Deep tendon reflex(DTR) was increased in all cases. The diagnosis was made from myelogram, CT and MRI. Sufficient posterior decompressive laminectomy and medial facetectomy were performed. Postoperative diagnosis was comfirmed by histopathological examination. One patient could return to work 3 months after operation and two patients showed satisfactory improvement 2-3 months after operation. Early diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment were prerequisite of good outcome.

• 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.46 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2009

Objectives : Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a rare cause of thoracic myelopathy. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the surgical outcome on the basis of preoperative clinical and radiological findings. Methods : Data obtained in 26 patients whot underwent posterior decompression for thoracic myelopathy, caused by thoracic OLF, were analyzed retrospectively. Patient age, duration of symptoms, OLF type, preoperative and postoperative neurological status using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system, surgical outcome, and other factors were reviewed. We compared the various factors and postoperative prognosis. All patients had undergone decompressive laminectomy and excision of the OLF. Results : Using the JOA score, the functional improvement was excellent in 8 patients, good in 14, fair in 2, and unchanged in 2. A mean preoperative JOA score of 6.65 improved to 8.17 after an average of 27.3 months. According to our analysis, age, gender, duration of symptoms, the involved spinal level, coexisting spinal disorders, associated trauma, intramedullary signal change, and dural adhesions were not related to the surgical outcome. However, the preoperative JOA score and type of OLF were the most important predictors of the surgical outcome. Conclusion : Early diagnosis and sufficient surgical decompression could improve the functional prognosis for thoracic OLF. The postoperative results were found to be significantly associated with the preoperative severity of myelopathy and type of OLF.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.719-729
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• 2022

Objective : The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between surgical decompression without instrumented fusion (D-group) and that with instrumented fusion (F-group). Methods : A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients (D-group, n=17; F-group, n=11) with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF. The clinical parameters compared included scores of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), the Visual analogue scale of the back and leg (VAS-B and VAS-L), and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI). Radiological parameters included the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), the segmental kyphosis angle (SKA) at the operated level, and the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA; a negative value implying lordosis). These parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively, and were compared with a linear mixed model. Results : After surgery, all clinical parameters were significantly improved in both groups, while VAS-L was more improved in the F-group than in the D-group (-3.4±2.5 vs. -1.3±2.2, p=0.008). Radiological outcomes were significantly different in terms of changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA. Changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA were 2.3°±4.7°, -0.1°±1.4°, and -1.3°±5.6° in the F-group, which were significantly lower than 6.8°±6.1°, 3.0°±2.8°, and 2.2°±5.3° in the D-group, respectively (p=0.013, p<0.0001, and p=0.037). Symptomatic recurrence of OLF occurred in one patient of the D-group at postoperative 24 months. Conclusion : Clinical improvement was achieved after decompression surgery for OLF regardless of whether instrumented fusion was added. However, adding instrumented fusion resulted in better outcomes in terms of lessening the progression of local and regional kyphosis and improving leg pain. Decompression with instrumented fusion may be a better surgical option for thoracic OLF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.654-664
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• 2020

Purpose To determine the frequency of ossification of the transverse ligament of the atlas (OTLA) and to investigate the associated findings on cervical spine CT and plain radiography. Materials and Methods We reviewed 5201 CT scans of the cervical spine of 3975 consecutive patients over an 11-year period for the presence of OTLA and compared them with those of age- and sex-matched controls. The frequency and associated findings of OTLA were investigated and statistically correlated. Results The overall frequency of OTLA was 1.1% (45 of 3975 patients) and increased with age (p < 0.005). The frequency of OTLA in patients over 80 years was 12%. The space available for the spinal cord (SAC) was smaller in patients with OTLA (p < 0.005). Mineralization of the complex of the anterior atlantooccipital membrane and Barkow ligament, ossification of the ligamentum flavum, and kyphosis of the cervical spine positively correlated to the presence of OTLA (p < 0.005). Conclusion OTLA was associated with age, SAC narrowing, cervical kyphosis, and ossification of other cervical ligaments and may be associated with degenerative spondylosis, systemic hyperostotic status, or mechanical stress or instability.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.127-149
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• 2004

Objective : Ossification of ligaments within spinal canal, i.e., OPLL and OLF, is uncommon clinical entity as a cause of the progressive compression myelopathy or radiculopathy. More and more cases being reported in the field of occidental medicine, but very few cases have been reported in the field of oriental medicine. The purpose of this study is to report on oriental medical approaches to OPLL and OLF. Methods : Subjects of this study are 3 cases of OPLL and 3 cases of OLF who visited Won-kwang oriental medical hospital(Dept. of acupuncture and Moxibustion) from May, 2002 to October, 2003. These patients undergo oriental medical treatment such as acupuncture, cupping, Bee-Venom therapy and herbal medication and so on. We made a comparison JOA scores between before treatment and after treatment and we evaluated results of treatment. Results : The results of treatment in these six cases are as follows ; One case was evaluated 'Excellent', one case was evaluated 'Good', two cases were evaluated 'Fair' and two cases were evaluated 'Failure'. One of these cases had a surgical operation after discharge from this hospital. Conclusions : After oriental medical care for these cases, there are some improvements such as decrease of pains, relief of myelopathy etc. But, it had little effect on some cases, therefore we considered that more special study to find various and effective methods of oriental medical treatment for these diseases should be made.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.761-768
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• 2001

Objective : To describe the underlying causes, surgical results, and prognostic factors in thoracic stenosis causing myelopathy, retrospective analysis for 28 cases of thoracic stenosis with surgery was performed Materials & Method : Twenty-eight patients(male, 15 ; female, 13) who underwent decompressive surgery for thoracic stenosis between 1987 and 1997 were analyzed. The mean age was 49 and the mean follow-up was 30.6 months. Statistical analysis with $SPSS^{(R)}$ was performed. Chi-square test was used for the analysis of relationship between subjects and multivariate analysis with general linear model was used to find prognostic factors. Result : Degenerative spondylosis was the most common cause, and three cases were associated with systemic diseases. Decompressive laminectomy was done in 23 cases, anterior decompression in four cases, and combined decompression in one case. Ossification of ligamentum flavum was found in 18 cases, facet hypertrophy in 13, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in six, and ventral spur in four. Postoperatively, 16 patients improved functionally and 4 patients worsened. The group of which initial symptom duration was less than two years showed better result(p=0.003). The group with sufficient decompression and no additional proximal stenosis had better outcome(p=0.002, p=0.001). Conclusion : Chronic myelopathy caused by thoracic stenosis can be reversible with appropriate decompression.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2010

Objectives : To compare the differences between the symptoms and the findings of MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) and x-ray, we studied the patients with neck pain or radiating pain, which has been diagnosed as cervical herniated disc recently. Methods : We randomly selected among the 143 patients with x-ray and cervical spine(C-spine) MRI films who have visited Ja-seng hospital with neck pain and neck and radiating pain from April 1 of 2010 to May 1. We used SPSS 13.0 for windows in analyzing statistical data of study results and the level of significance was below 0.05. Results : 1. There were no significant differences between the presence of radiating pain and the amount of cervical herniation(p>0.05). 2. If the finding of a x-ray showed narrowing, based on MRI findings, the amount of herniation was more severe(p>0.05). 3. There were no significant differences between the presence of radiating pain and the findings of x-ray(p>0.05). 4. Among the 143 cases, which showed findings beside HIVD(herniation of intervertebral disc) were 13 cases. 88 cases of straightening(61.5%). 78 cases of uncovertebral joint arthrosis(54.5%). 25 cases of stenosis(17.5%), 13 cases of retrolisthesis(9.1%), 8 cases of osteophyte(6.6%), 4 cases of spondylolisthesis(2.8%), 2 cases of hemangioma(1.4%), 3 cases of OPLL(ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament)(2.1%), 2 cases of block vertebrae(1.4%), 2 cases of spondylitis(1.4%), 1 case of kyphosis(0.1) and 1 case of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy(0.1%). Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that there was no relation between radiating pain and radiological result. On the other hand, diagnosis of x-ray and MRI showed significant relevance. The narrower disc space there were, the severer the state of herniation there existed.